Can I do pull-ups after pectus excavatum surgery?
Disease description:
My son has severe thoracic deformity due to congenital rickets and underwent pectus excavatum surgery. However, he is a student athlete—can he do pull-ups on the horizontal bar after the surgery?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Sun Qifeng
It is best to avoid pull-up bar exercises for at least six months after pectus excavatum surgery. Pectus excavatum surgery is a procedure to correct chest wall deformity, and the typical full recovery period is about 5 to 6 months, after which light regular physical activities can be resumed without affecting chest healing. However, if an athlete needs to resume training sooner, light exercises such as push-ups and chest presses may be started approximately two months after surgery as alternatives to pull-up bar training.
