{"id":742,"date":"2021-05-17T23:40:54","date_gmt":"2021-05-17T23:40:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.mutusystem.com\/en-us\/?p=742"},"modified":"2023-12-15T12:14:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T12:14:04","slug":"how-long-postpartum-till-i-can-crossfit-plank-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutusystem.com\/en-us\/postpartum-exercise\/how-long-postpartum-till-i-can-crossfit-plank-run\/","title":{"rendered":"How long until I can try a harder postpartum workout?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
‘How long postpartum till I can get back to HIIT like CrossFit\u2122\ufe0f, start running or do harder workouts and ab work like planks?’ This is something that comes up a lot for athletic Moms working on postpartum core recovery and strengthening. Y’all want to know when you can get to the hard stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is no exact number of weeks or test or criteria that say how long postpartum till you can HIIT. But in fact you don’t need one – you actually just need to listen because your body is letting you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first stages of strengthening after childbirth are to rebuild the foundations of core and pelvic floor function<\/a>. Focussed breath-work and core reconnection are vital for a minimum of 6-10 weeks postpartum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But how long postpartum before you can do harder workouts – lifting, running, pull ups and other HIIT?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key is progression: layer upon layer to get where you want to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You’re finding a new base-line, a new starting point. Adapting exercises and movements is about layers. This is how personal trainers devise your programs! They start with lower intensity, lower reps or weights, shorter levers, less load. And gradually, as you master your technique and gets stronger, they add another progression to keep challenging your muscles, coordination and fitness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MUTU System workouts<\/a> are designed to progress you through gradual phases of restoration, bringing in intensive, fat burning but low-impact workouts along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When there is a move that may be too much, we tell you how to assess that, and then how to adjust, adapt and gradually progress to where you want to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With diastasis recti<\/a>, core weakness, pelvic floor dysfunction,<\/a> prolapse or hernia<\/a>, or any abdominal or pelvic symptoms you’re not sure about, be cautious with the following moves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid for 6-10 weeks postpartum, then build and modify gradually, watching for red flags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u274c Sit-ups or crunches; oblique twists; V-sits; planks; push-ups; jumping or skipping; burpees; running; heavy lifting; pull-ups; skipping; box jumps; rope climbs; any move requiring breath holding or Valsalva maneuver. \u274c<\/p>\n\n\n\n Know that it’s not forever! You will progress, gradually building back to where you want to be. As you build back strength with MUTU, keep trying modified versions of harder moves with our expert guidance. <\/p> Listen to your body and respond to its signals and new boundaries as they change.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Red flags are your body telling you that what you’re doing, is asking too much – FOR NOW. Back up and get functioning first. You’ll get to where you want to be – just do it progressively.You’re not yet ready for high intensity interval training if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a0\ufe0f You ever leak urine (or worse) when working out (no – it is not OK to pee yourself).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a0\ufe0f If you experience pelvic or lower back pain during or after exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a0\ufe0f You feel unstable in the core or like you’re ‘falling-out at the front’ when you perform any exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a0\ufe0f If your body shakes or trembles during any move or hold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u26a0\ufe0f There is bulging, straining, protrusion or doming anywhere on or from within your abdomen or pelvic floor when you work out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Appropriate core exercise should go hand in hand with \u2018working out\u2019. It\u2019s not something we do for a while and then forget about, once we\u2019re back to the fun, sweaty, heavy stuff. Mindful core work needs to be at the forefront of your mind always, and that doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re lifting your 7kg baby out of her crib or an 80kg barbell at the gym. If you throw everything you\u2019ve learnt about core out the window once you hit the running track or your local bootcamp, you will risk undoing all your hard work up until this point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Putting the time into core exercise and making it part of your every day, for every day going forward as long as you want to be a healthy, happy, functional and strong human being, is the key to making this work and to being able to do the stuff you love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Breathing work and core connection isn\u2019t a temporary replacement for the juicy stuff, it\u2019s fundamental to you *being able to do the juicy stuff*.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You cannot strengthen or build muscles that aren\u2019t functioning optimally. If your core or pelvic floor muscles are not working right, you can\u2019t just make them stronger by planking or crunching. All that will happen instead is that other parts of your body, namely your abdomen, or pelvic floor, will take up the strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or not. Because when intra abdominal pressure is just too much for these non-functioning muscles to withstand – they blow. Leaking urine, prolapse, hernia<\/a>, diastasis recti<\/a>, a pooching mummy tummy are signs of a core not working right. Not signs of a core that just needs to plank longer or lift more or run on regardless – a core that ISN’T WORKING.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you get back to the hard intensive stuff too soon, you risk prolapse, hernia, diastasis recti, abdominal separation, or leaks. These are all signs that your core isn\u2019t working properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExercises to avoid as you start out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Red flags – when you’re not ready <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Keep doing your core workouts!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How long postpartum before you can do harder ab workouts?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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