When Can I Exercise After Jaw Surgery?

When Can I Exercise After Jaw Surgery?

Staying active is important, but returning too soon can affect healing. Here is the recommended timeline for exercise.

You need to wait 4–8 weeks before returning to most forms of exercise after orthognathic surgery.

Exercise timeline:

Activity	When to Resume
Walking	Immediately — gentle walking helps reduce swelling
Light housework	After 1 week
Yoga (gentle, no inversions)	3–4 weeks
Running, jogging	4–5 weeks
Weightlifting (light weights)	4–6 weeks
Swimming	4–6 weeks (after incisions have closed)
Contact sports (basketball, soccer)	10–12 weeks
Boxing, martial arts	12+ weeks
Football, rugby	12+ weeks

• Why the wait matters:
• Blood pressure increases during exercise can cause bleeding or swelling
• Facial impact from contact sports can disrupt healing
• Falls during exercise could damage the healing bone
• Dehydration affects healing

Signs to Stop

• If you experience any of these during exercise, stop and rest:
• Pain or discomfort in the jaw
• Increased bleeding from incisions
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• The feeling that your jaw is "different"

Clinical Guidance

Start with walking immediately after surgery. Gradually increase activity over 4–8 weeks. Avoid contact sports for at least 10–12 weeks. Always ask your surgeon before returning to exercise, as individual recovery times vary.