Discussion on exercising

[Jamie]

@Spex10......why not put your pedaler up on a table and used it as an arm bike for a good cardio workout?

 

[Spex10]

Good idea re the pedaler. The hoop dancing seemed way beyond my capabilities! I could never get a hula hoop going even when I was young. I don't think I have the co ordination to keep all those hoops going!!

 

[KarriB]

I used an arm pedaler in transition care. They asked m what I wanted to work on, I replied, "stamina". Of course I'd just had surgery for days before and could barely do 5 min! Give it a try, Spex, let us know how it works.

 

[agarrett]

My very first knee surgery, not replacement, I had to use the arm peddler. That was what I dreaded, it really is a workout. But it kept my cardio up a little and since in college, I needed to stay in shape a bit.


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum

 

[Josephine]

I'm concerned about cardio fitness. I need to think beyond just my knee!

Never thought of doing standing push-up! But everywhere I've looked says you can get a good cardio from walking.

an arm bike. I tried it and it can give you quite a workout.

I'd love to do this but can't because of my dicky shoulders.

 

[KarriB]

I love to walk, but my left knee is ready for a TKR, however my brain isn't. So I do what I can with not as much walking. I think walking is the best thing we can do, maybe this time next year, but for now 8 miles on my bike got my heart going this afternoon. Then I add the standing push ups (great for arm strength) and 100 sit ups for my core. Hoping to drop some weight in the coming months.

 

[little red canoe]

walked three miles today.. pooped.. Stiff. dehydrated. 90 degrees is not my friend..OK maybe the stiffness was due to 21 miles biked yesterday...outside out and back.. noticed it was a headwind on the way back....
Tomorrow we have a 19 mile paddle planned .. That will be shorter if it is still HOT.

 

[dd7]

Hi @Campervan ,

Your note on flexion progress is very encouraging, thank you !

Would you kindly share what did you do, i.e, exercise, massage that enabled to get the flexion ?

Thanks,

David

 

[Celle]

I hope Campervan comes back and responds, David, but her knees are both well healed now and she isn't on BoneSmart very often, because she's enjoying her normal life. She gave me permission to use her note on flexion progress, because it is so reassuring for people taking the slow path.

 

[MyTest]

@Celle Hello, how can you tell if soft tissue has been damaged? Thanks

Four months is an appropriate time to begin strengthening exercises. By then, much of the wounded soft tissues have had sufficient time to repair themselves and the likelihood of damaging them by over-exercising has mostly past.

I recommend only exercising gently in the early days, because you have had major surgery that caused a lot of trauma. At that point, your knee is wounded, not lazy. It needs to be kept moving, gently, but it doesn't need a regime of hard exercise.

 

[Celle]

@Celle Hello, how can you tell if soft tissue has been damaged? Thanks

It stands to reason that soft tissue is damaged during your surgery. Some of it is cut, some of it is pulled aside and handled, so will be stretched or bruised. Muscles and tendons are moved out of the way, to provide access to your knee joint itself. Some damage is inevitable. It's not just your bones that are affected.
Have a look at these photos and the video and you may understand a little bit better:
TKR surgery - WARNING: real life photos
Knee replacement surgery types and suggested videos

 

[MyTest]

@Celle sorry, I meant how can you tell after surgery. I suppose you would be in alot of pain. Thanks!!

 

[Celle]

I think the answer is the same, @MyTest . Yes, you'll feel pain after surgery, and the pain is a combination of bone pain and soft tissue pain. It's impossible to have a knee replacement without incurring soft tissue damage.