abdominal hernia... why don't we ALL have them?

[Q.]

I was just curious as to why ALL of us who do deadlifts and other such types of weight-lifting don't have abdominal hernias. If you look this topic up online, the AMA says that one of the causes is lifting heavy objects which is what I always associated it with. Is it because we've strenghtened our ab's as we progressed in weight-training or is luck of the draw? The AMA site also says that being obese can make you more susceptible so that kind of leads me to believe that it's more common in people who are out of shape. Then there's the straining while taking a dump problem...

[cappuccino]

Hey Q...

I'm of course no scientist...but I'd guess that you'd get hernias from lifting heavy weights incorrectly...

Also have heard that men are more susceptible to them than women....

[Q.]

Yeah, I think that the AMA website said the same thing about men being more prone to getting them. I don't know if that has anything to do with the macho thing about, "here, let me lift that for you little woman!" thing or not but it was kind of what I thought. Maybe possibly more weekend warrior syndrome where guys tend to overdo it thinking that they're 18 instead of 48.

Of course I AM an 18 year old living in a 50 year old's body so none of this applies to me!

[cappuccino]

Yes, or simply because women are genetically superior to men

[Q.]

Hmmmmmmm....... I'll have to get back to you on that one, my wife is calling.

"Here, boy... come here, boy!"

[cappuccino]

LOL

I hope you know I'm just teasing...

(well sort of) [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[russ]

Originally posted by Q.:
I was just curious as to why ALL of us who do deadlifts and other such types of weight-lifting don't have abdominal hernias. If you look this topic up online, the AMA says that one of the causes is lifting heavy objects which is what I always associated it with. Is it because we've strenghtened our ab's as we progressed in weight-training or is luck of the draw? The AMA site also says that being obese can make you more susceptible so that kind of leads me to believe that it's more common in people who are out of shape. Then there's the straining while taking a dump problem...

Heavy lifting is a risk factor, but most of us will still manage to avoid them, particulary if we breathe properly (inhale on the eccentric , exhale on the concentric) and maintain good form.

[Kaiser]

Brad, I wish I had seen this earlier so that I could respond. You're talking about inguinal hernias - the traditional kind that men get 'near the twigs and berries'. Those are genetic weakness in the wall that keeps your intestines separate from your scrotum. Normally after the testicles descend during embryonic development, the area they descend from closes up. But in some males, this area doesn't close up completely, and these are the males who are most susceptible to herniation. If you have weak abdominals, or are obese, you are adding to the stress in that area. And of course, heavy lifting with poor form can tear the opening larger and eventually result in said herniation.

In my case, I got it from a frequent deep cough! All the deadlifting and squatting may have contributed to set it up, but for all I know, it didn't harm it a bit. I got mine at about the same age and the same side as my father did.

So the long and the short of it is that you generally need to have this susceptability beforehand in order to have heavy lifting affect it.

Now for abdominal herniation, that is the common name for hernias that occur through the bellybutton. That is much more common in women, because of the stretching of the belly during childbirth. BTW, there are a number of different types of hernias from different types of locations. Essentially, a hernia means that your intestinal area has brken through to somewhere it shouldn't be.

[russ]

Just to clarify, there are 2 classic types of inguinal hernia. There is the 'indirect' type, as described by Kaiser, and 'direct', which are unrelated to the 'patent processus vaginalis' (the area that doesn't close up) and acquired rather than congenital (although relative weakness in the tissues through which the hernia protrudes has a congenital component, apparently).

The hernia through the bellybutton is called an umbilical hernia.

There are a whole bunch of other types of hernias involving the abdominal wall and groin.

[Kaiser]

Oops, I should've clarified (thanks Russ), but since Brad was asking why we all don't get them when lifting heavy, I only provided what I guessed was the most obvious answer. Yes, anyone can get one, but those with the genetic traits I mentioned above are more prone to get them.

[Q.]

Thanks, folks... and, yes, I guessed you were teasing,cappuccino... right?

My maternal grandfather had one many years ago but I've seen no indication that it's a concern for me. There's a guy I know at the gym who just had one repaired so I guess that's why it came to mind.