Pre-surgery strength training/exercise

[beth1954]

Hi--It's Beth from the "I'm obese....." etc.
I have a recumbent bike, and was getting on it a couple of times a week for about 15 minutes. That's all I could do. I built up to about 20 minutes. One night I did 21 minutes and the next morning I was crippled. I don't know if it was the bike or not. Does anyone have any knowledge of a stationery bike causing this kind of pain?? I thought since it wasn't weight bearing that it wouldn't hurt, then I thought about just the movement in my joint might have been too much....

There seems to be very little I can do right now and I want to do SOMETHING so bad.

And what about upper body strength exercises? I think someone mentioned it on the other thread. I need some examples because I have no imagination. I'm also researching this on the internet.

thanks,

Beth

 

[Josephine]

20 minutes seems quite a bit in one go. I suggest you try 2 periods of 10 minutes instead. Any exercise can cause problems like that so it's best not to overdo it. Doesn't matter if it's recumbent or not. I found that when I was going to the gym. I was scheduled to do 10 minutes on the treadmill but one week I decided to bump it up to 20 and boy did I suffer for it! My trainer told me off and said if I was determined to do that, do the 10 mins and then another 10 mins later. It worked much better.

As for upper body, they are simplicity itself. Do a Google search for arm and upper body exercises and where they use dumbells, you use a (full!) can of beans in each hand instead.

 

[edk]

My doc prescribed preop PT and what we did was ROM and strength training.
Much of the strength training was isometric. So we would stretch calf, quad,
and hamstring. Then do things like with your leg as straight as it would go
lift it up with a weight on the ankle.... At this point in your life I would think
that 20 minutes on a bike is a plus for your heart and a minus for your knee.

 

[beth1954]

EDK, I'll try some of those exercises. I guess it's to build up all the leg muscles, right? That makes alot of sense.

My daughter reminded me that for arthritis, it's good to keep your knee moving, but for "bone-to-bone" it might just be aggravating to it......

My bone-to-bone spot is on the inside of my knee, but I have more pain on the outside (right side) of my knee....

 

[Sandy R]

My OS suggested I "walk" prior to my surgery date. I don't know if you have pain walking but 10 minute walks outside, twice a day, really helped me build pre-surgery strength.

I'm 3 months post-op now and using a recumbent bike. It's a big help and I'm doing great... ROM is 0-122. I'm doing 10 minute sessions, no resistance, once or twice a day. At this point, I think 15 or 20 minutes would do me in.
Sandy

 

[beth1954]

I really can't walk right now. I'm in pain almost all the time while standing/walking. Especially when I first get up after I've been sitting down at work for awhile. I can barely put any weight on it all then. I guess I'll do the upper body and the leg exercises.

 

[Judles]

Just do as much as your body tells you you can do! We've all pushed it too hard and pay the consequences

 

[Pa guy]

Beth, have you put any thought into trying the therapy bands?
There nothing more then rubber bands that give a wide variety of resistances, great for strengthening with very little effect on joints.
Big part of my PT was using the bands until i was able to walk with little or no assistance.
They can be used sitting, stand, laying and are very inexpensive.
Professional athletes even use them to reduce the wear and tear on joints, and build up strength.

 

[beth1954]

Funny you should mention those bands. I was on the internet last night looking for different exercises to do and saw the bands. I'm going to try to find some!
Thanks!

 

[Pa guy]

Your very welcome!
Maybe stopping by or calling a local PT they may be able to get you them at there cost, if not free second hand ones, my Pt had given me a few to take home at no cost.

 

[JudyS]

Beth
Back to the bike. It may be it just hurts too much, but it is very important to have the seat/peddle adjusted correctly. Do you have anyone around to instruct you or see if it is correct? Definately start off at 10 minutes though.
Good Luck
Judy

 

[beth1954]

Actually, the bike was KILLING my back until I got something that strapped on the back of the seat that kind of cradled my back. I've got short legs, so it is up about as far as it can go. Already I can hardly SQUEEZE in between the seat and the display!