What is the rationale for not allowing patients with hernias to do sit-ups for 6 weeks after a herniorrhaphy?
- Wound tensile strength initially is relatively weak.
- It increases slowly for about 2 weeks and then increases rapidly for 4 weeks in a linear fashion.
- By 6 weeks after injury, the wound has gained about 50% of its ultimate strength and is strong enough to tolerate moderate forces.
- In the elderly, it may be prudent to be more patient because gains in tensile strength are slower.
