Find out if hemorrhoids can be acquired by exercising in the gym and if resistance training can be continued in this case.
What are hemorrhoids?
Hemorrhoids are swollen tissues in the anus. Located in the walls of the rectum, these tumors can cause bleeding. Hemorrhoids can develop with tissue enlargement and their subsequent relaxation, which leads to a loss of connection with the "structural elements". According to statistics on the planet, more than 60 percent of the population suffers from hemorrhoids.
At risk are people over 40 years old, but at a younger age, the appearance of hemorrhoids is not excluded. For most people, hemorrhoids are "embarrassing" diseases and are rarely spoken about aloud. Note that hemorrhoids can be of two types:
- Interior - is located in the rectum and rarely causes pain.
- External - the development of the disease takes place in the anus from the outside and can be very painful.
Is there a relationship between hemorrhoids and bodybuilding?
There can be many reasons for the development of hemorrhoids, but today we will only talk about whether there is a relationship between hemorrhoids and bodybuilding. As you know, to gain mass, you need to work with large weights. This creates a lot of stress on the body and, as a result, the processes of muscle tissue growth are activated.
Deadlifts, bench presses, and squats are the most effective in terms of muscle growth. At the same time, it is under their influence, especially for squats and deadlifts, that intra-abdominal pressure rises sharply. Often, when performing them, athletes use athletic belts, tightly tightening the abdomen, and also increases internal pressure.
The increase in intra-abdominal pressure also contributes to its increase in the pelvic area, as well as the clamping of the blood vessels that supply blood to the rectum. The longer this effect on the body lasts, the more the vessels dilate. All this increases the risk of developing hemorrhoids, and especially if there is a predisposition to this disease. There are three simple ways to determine a predisposition to hemorrhoids:
- The presence of varicose veins in close relatives.
- Stool problems, more specifically constipation, are common.
- Passive and sedentary lifestyle.
Can you exercise for hemorrhoids?
If you have been diagnosed with this disease, but you want to continue to do bodybuilding, then we can give some tips on how to proceed.
To get started, you should seek the advice of a sports medicine specialist. I would like to focus on the word "sports". A doctor who works in a regular clinic will not work for you. Most likely, you will have to pay for this, but it will be very good if you start to observe him constantly.
From your exercise program, it is necessary to exclude all movements that contribute to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure. In addition to the ones already mentioned above, these are army deadlifts, lunges, points and snatches, as well as cardio load, which implies friction, for example, running.
When doing exercises, it is necessary to breathe correctly, and try to exclude air retention or its lowering towards the anus. Breathe out the air completely after each repetition. For hemorrhoids, lifting weights is prohibited, but exercises that stimulate blood flow to the pelvic area can be very beneficial. Yoga classes and walking for half an hour a day can be very effective.
Start using special creams and suppositories that contain hydrocortisone, such as Proctonol. Preparations based on phenylephrine, which have the ability to dilate blood vessels, will also help.
Also try to drink more water during exercise. That's all the recommendations regarding training for hemorrhoids.
For hemorrhoids in bodybuilding, see this video:
