Staying Active with a Feeding Tube
Medically Reviewed by Janel Ganz, BSN, RN, Enteral Feeding Specialist
People who have a feeding tube can have an active lifestyle. If you have a feeding tube, you can still be a part of your favorite activities such as working out, playing non-contact sports, and having a social life. Having the right amount of nutrition can give you the energy needed to keep a healthy lifestyle. There are some forms of exercise that should be avoided. This is to protect your tube and stoma site. Below are some tips on keeping a healthy lifestyle and protecting your tube.
Getting Exercise is a Good Thing
A feeding tube will not stop you from walking or running if you are able to do those things. It is important to let the stoma site heal before you go back to normal activities.
Since the tube is placed in your abdomen, talk to your healthcare team before doing exercises where your ab muscles will be used a lot. Some examples include yoga, Pilates, or crunches. It is likely you can still do these exercises, but it is best to make sure your tube does not fall out and the skin does not get red while doing so.
After any sweaty activity, it is important to dry the skin around your tube. You may also need extra water at your feedings to replace what you lost.
Go Non-Contact with Contact Sports
It is best that you avoid sports that might involve colliding with other people, being knocked over or struck, getting hit by a ball, or falling roughly. This includes common team sports like football or hockey, and even individual sports like wrestling or martial arts.
It may be a chance to try a new activity. Learn to play tennis, take dance lessons, or explore nature on a hike!
Listen to Your Body
Even after your stoma site is healed, your body is still adjusting to a change. Athletes who have surgery to repair an injury need to give their bodies enough time to heal and slowly rebuild strength. Having a feeding tube placed is also a surgical procedure, so it is important to work back up to your regular activity levels rather than doing it all at once.
While you are exercising, listen to how your body feels. This includes your:
- Energy level
- Breathing
- Heart rate
- Level of discomfort
If you feel faint, dizzy, or ill during exercise, stop right away. Do the same if your tube is out of place or if you have pain at the stoma site.
For active people, it may be hard to take it easy. But if you ignore your body’s warnings, then you could get injured and be unable to exercise for a long time. Talk to your healthcare team before starting any exercise.
