A hydrocele is a condition in which fluid gets filled up in a male’s scrotum, causing it to swell. Even though hydrocele is not considered a major health issue, it does not necessarily cause any pain either, but it can be highly uncomfortable and make it difficult for you to lead a normal life. These are more common in male infants than adults and proper medical treatments are required. The cause of hydroceles can be an injury or inflammation within the scrotum, it may also develop before birth and usually gets absorbed within the first year of life.
These symptoms may help you identify hydroceles and you must consult the doctor immediately, instead of self-diagnosing. The condition can worsen if left untreated, timely diagnosis, treatment and possibly surgery are required. However, your doctor may allow certain exercises to help you temporarily cope with the condition.
The surgery for hydrocele is usually a minor surgery with a quick recovery time of 2-3 weeks and a low risk of postoperative bleeding or infections.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
If you are suffering from hydrocele, regular exercise may help manage your symptoms temporarily. Your doctor may suggest a few easy exercises to do at home, depending on your condition. Let us find out some of the right exercises for a person with hydrocele.
Also known as the thunderbolt pose, this simple exercise must be done by sitting back erect on your legs. You must keep your ankles together, thighs on your calves, and keep your buttocks on your heels. Place your hands on your knees, keep your arms relaxed, head straight, and chin parallel to the ground. Try to focus on your breathing as you slowly inhale and exhale air, in and out of your lungs. Hold this position for a few minutes and try to increase this time every day. This exercise has several health benefits, it improves blood circulation and may help bring down the swelling due to hydrocele.
You should perform Garudasana or the Eagle Pose on an empty stomach. It is a somewhat complex pose but with regular practice, you can do it well. Standing straight on both your feet, slowly raise your right leg and wrap it around the left leg. The right thigh should be over the left thigh and the right foot should touch the calf muscles from behind. You will now have to wrap the right hand around the left hand and place the palms together. Concentrate on balancing your body and continue breathing properly. This exercise will majorly improve blood circulation to the reproductive system and is advised for people with hydrocele.
Kapalbhati is a popular Pranayam and has various health benefits. It must be practiced regularly to get positive results for hydrocele. Sit comfortably on a yoga mat with your spine erect. Now place your hands on your knees with both the palms facing upwards. Inhale and then exhale while pulling your navel in as much as you can. When you relax, you will feel the breath flow into your lungs automatically. Do one round of the exercise, take 20 breaths, and continue with 3 such rounds every day. Kapalbhati greatly improves the blood supply to all the body organs, it is a breathing exercise that helps improve the functioning of the reproductive system and reduces discomfort and heaviness caused due to hydrocele.
Gomukhasana or the cow pose is a beneficial exercise which is suggested for providing temporary relief to the symptoms of hydrocele. It is good for a range of sexual disorders as it effectively increases the blood flow to the reproductive system. Sit with your back straight and your legs forward. Now bend your left leg and place the foot under your right hip. Gently bend your right leg and cross it over the left leg. Keep your right knee on the left one. Fold your left arm behind the back and bring the palm up. Raise the right hand, bend down to reach the left palm, and clasp it. Hold this position and breathe slowly.
The Frog Pose exercise must be started by getting in the Vajrasana pose. You must make firm fists with both hands, inhale, and exhale while you bend your body forward while pressing your fists against the navel. Your chin must touch your knees while doing this. Stay in this position for one minute and release. This yoga is very helpful for people with hydrocele, it regulates digestion, optimises the function of excretory and reproductive systems.
Shashankasana or the hare pose is a very relaxing exercise and shows positive results for hydrocele when done regularly. Sit in the Vajrasana pose and practice relaxed breathing. First, raise your hands above your head, then exhale and try to bend forward and touch the ground. Maintain this position for a while and then relax.
These yoga asanas may be done by a person with hydrocele. You must, however, consult a doctor and inform him/her if you have any prior health condition, because these exercises may not be advised to patients with orthopaedic problems and more.
Hydrocele should always be evaluated by a surgeon first before using all home remedies as long standing hydrocele can cause irreversible infertility.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
While exercises are good for you, it is important to understand that not all exercises are good for your condition and if you don’t perform the exercises correctly, it may even worsen your condition. Avoid strenuous exercises which may aggravate your symptoms.
Also Read: How to Tone Legs: Expert’s Guide to Achieving Fitness Goals
While hydrocele may not seem life-threatening, you must not ignore the symptoms. It is always best to consult the doctor, seek medical advice, and indulge in regular physical exercise. You must consult a doctor at the earliest as you notice any hydrocele symptoms because the right diagnosis and treatment are necessary.
Ans. Your doctor will physically examine the area to see if any bulges change in the groin area under pressure or when you cough. You may have to undergo imaging tests like an ultrasound for further understanding of your condition and to proceed with the appropriate treatment.
Ans. It is safe to do some types of yoga if you have hydrocele, but it is best to consult a certified yoga instructor or physician before you begin. This helps you to avoid making mistakes in your yoga postures. You can practice the exercises based on your health status. There are several yoga postures and exercises which may be good for a person with hydrocele but contraindicated for a person with back pain, joint pain, hip injury, spine-related problems, etc.
Ans. A hydrocele may not directly affect your fertility, but it can cause some amount of pain and discomfort, hence medical attention is necessary.
Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
We all know that lockdown is essential to flatten the curve of COVID-19. But it has forced us to change our daily routine. We are not going outside for work, to meet with our loved ones or go to the movies and restaurants.
Do you miss going to the gym or jogging in a park? We can’t do a lot of activities that we liked, like going for a swim, walk or cycling around the neighbourhood. And if these are your modes of exercising, then you’ve been forced to give them up.
Not exercising for the whole duration can have an adverse effect on your health.
Luckily, there are plenty of exercises that can be done from the safety of your home and you don’t even need gym equipment. Even if you don’t exercise, now is a good time to acquire this life-saving habit because we have so much time on our hands.
Studies say, that sedentary behaviour and low levels of physical activity during lockdown will impose negative effects on our health, well-being and quality of our life. Such negativity will drastically ruin our lives in the long run, thus welcoming many hurdles towards our health.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
WHO has advised us all to stay physically active during lockdown and isolation. Exercise and health are linked. The more active you are, the less likely you are to fall ill.
In fact, it is believed that exercise reduces the possibility of contracting communicable diseases (like COVID-19, flu) and even non-communicable diseases (like cancer, heart diseases, hypertension or diabetes).
Does exercise make our immunity stronger? Yes. Blood supply to all parts of the body increases. Cells get more oxygen and nutrients, which make them stronger and more capable of handling pathogens. And through exercise, you can also ward off illnesses like heart diseases or diabetes, which make COVID-19 fatal.
Exercise also releases endorphins or happy hormones that make us feel relaxed and calm. These hormones also help us cope with stress and anxiety- something we desperately need during this global health crisis.
Push-ups and dips are some exercises that are easy to do indoors to build upper body strength and muscles, try mixing up workouts like committing to a brief 10-minute workout solely focused on cardio or core strength.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
We are going to discuss a few whole-body exercises that will put different parts of your body to use to keep them strong and flexible. Do as many repetitions as you are comfortable with.
Your strength and endurance will increase gradually and you will be able to work out for longer. Pushing yourself too hard right from the start may cause cramps and injuries.
Lunges are an all-time favourite. There are many versions of it and you can pack them all into your work-out session. Here are a few you must try-
Planks may look simple but they are truly challenging. It works your entire body. Try both the regular plank and the side plank. Once you get used to planks, incorporate leg lifts in your plank routine. Here are a few benefits of the plank-
Mix up your lunges with squats as they work really well together. Like lunges, there are different types of squats and you can pick the ones your body is comfortable with. Beginners should opt for the conventional two-leg squats.
You can base your whole exercise routine on a jumping rope or skipping because this cardio exercise is simply amazing.
The goodness of burpees extends to all parts of the body. Burpees are difficult. So start with a simple non-pushup variation of burpees and do just a few.
Also Read: Does Skipping Reduce Weight? Examining the Facts and Myths
For good luck, we’ll throw in just one more exercise into the mix. This one is called power walking. Yes, good old walking can be one of the best exercises for strength and power. If done in a brisk manner accompanied by swift arm movements, this exercise can help you lose some weight amongst other great benefits.
Since we all are stuck in this Covid-19 world, make sure you take all safety precautions before venturing out. Keep a safe distance from others while walking. Otherwise, a 10-15 minute walk in your terrace or garden can do the trick just as well. Partaking in this short workout will better the strength of cardiac muscles, and also prevent severe joint pain in later years of your life.
Also Read: FUPA Workout: Effective Techniques to Burn Lower Belly Fat
In the current situation, it can be tough to keep yourself motivated to do anything, let alone exercise! Hence, here are some simple tips you can follow to bring out the workout clothes which have been collecting dust for quite some time now:
Try different forms of exercise every day and allow yourself one rest day to let your body heal. Stay home at all times, eat healthily and exercise. We will emerge from the crisis as stronger individuals.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.
