As low impact to all joints as swimming but not swimming

JoRocka

Chieflrg wrote: »

JoRocka wrote: »

Also- I got my posters a little confused- but this very much applies to OP. Lots of limitations- go see a therapist and a professional.

hyIianprincess wrote: »

Chieflrg wrote: »

hyIianprincess wrote: »

I have arthritis too pretty much everywhere as well. I use therabands (not for long periods since gripping makes me stiff) and ankle/wrist weights. It's not a lot of resistance, but I feel like I've built a little bit of muscle. I would also suggest yoga or even pilates. Pilates was great, but I had to stop during my latest flare.

Barbell training is more effective than therabands for stiff hands/fingers.

You wouldn't build any muscle with bands though. Might notice a very slight strength gain though as you adapt to the resistance.

I’m sure it does but I personally can’t due to being extremely hyper mobile. I have dislocations daily. I have to keep it light. But yeah, I haven’t noticed a significant amount of muscle from therabands, but that’s what my PT therapist is having me do

You have a lot of limitations that go well beyond the scope of an internet forum.

You have a therapist- use them- that's what they are there for.

I agree that a internet forum wouldnt be my first choice but neither would a therapist. Though it's unpopular believe a therapist who utilizes therabands and refuse to use barbell training(usually because they don't understand the benefits) are pretty worthless. This is the case far too often.

Ever since switching back to barbell training, I've only dislocated twice in the past three years, opposed to every therapist session for months.

I would advice a doctor who not only practices barbell training, but coaches it as well and has experience with this dx.

Yes- I guess I would have assumed if someone had all these issues - the doctor would have been step one. And they would have said - go do X and Y.

Which gets us to a physical therapist of some sort.

But yes- that- go see specialist you can help- the more issues you have- and the more "well I can't b/c this- or that" the more you need someone specific and not us unwashed masses.

CarvedTones

With my insurance, PT visits are about $90 a pop and @Chieflrg is right - therabands are about all they send you off with to do yourself. When I was getting post surgery shoulder PT they did do some barbell work but it was ultra light. @JoRocka also makes a good point but because the specialists don't always offer you everything, it is better to go in with some alternatives that are workable logistically and ask what is doable. But most don't want to give you much info unless they have been working with you a few se$$ions.

girlwithcurls2

Is swimming not a good option because you aren't "a swimmer," or you don't have access to a good pool? My community center offers aqua yoga as well as two kinds of cardio: deep and shallow. The deep is 0% impact. You could arrive early or stay late and use a kickboard to do a lap or two. For what it's worth, yoga in the water is really challenging.

CarvedTones

girlwithcurls2 wrote: »

Is swimming not a good option because you aren't "a swimmer," or you don't have access to a good pool? My community center offers aqua yoga as well as two kinds of cardio: deep and shallow. The deep is 0% impact. You could arrive early or stay late and use a kickboard to do a lap or two. For what it's worth, yoga in the water is really challenging.

I swim like a fish. I have done mile swims before. It's an issue of access, money and time. I could afford to pay for access at the community pool, but then there are restricted hours and I would spend the better part of an hour driving both ways, changing, showering and changing back and I need to do something that takes me under an hour total. I could join a club that is much closer with much more availability as fas hours go but it is substantially more expensive and can get busy enough to make swimming a pain (I belonged for a little while on a trial offer).

BrianSharpe

This is going to sound harsh but, you seem to be better at making excuses why you can't do something rather than finding ways to do it.

You agreed that an elliptical would probably work but then said you don't have space. Is there a gym you can join? Planet Fitness (everybody love to hate them around here..)is $10 a month, the YMCA is more expensive but they are always willing to work with someone if money is an issue.

You said you swim like a fish but shot down the community pool based on hours and a gym based on cost. If you wanted it badly enough you'd find a way to make it work.

CarvedTones

I probably should have stated in the original post that I mean something I can do at home, instead of dismissing suggestions that won't work for me at home individually. I have started doing some really light barbells and hope to carefully increase that to try and find a happy medium where I can work muscles enough to tone without causing inflammation. But I am still looking for suggestions as I am not convinced it is optimal.

BrianSharpe

CarvedTones wrote: »

I probably should have stated in the original post that I mean something I can do at home, instead of dismissing suggestions that won't work for me at home individually. I have started doing some really light barbells and hope to carefully increase that to try and find a happy medium where I can work muscles enough to tone without causing inflammation. But I am still looking for suggestions as I am not convinced it is optimal.

Fair enough, I guess building a pool in the basement would be impractical!

CarvedTones

BTW, the reason barbells feel "not optimal" to me is that using them carefully doesn't seem to be much exercise.

Chieflrg

CarvedTones wrote: »

BTW, the reason barbells feel "not optimal" to me is that using them carefully doesn't seem to be much exercise.

But using barbells in a progressive fashion is "training" to make your muscle stronger which in turn will not only strengthen your joints, will cut down the intensity of flares and the stress thst is known to cause them.

You might also note that "toning" is a marketing word to sell products and not actually a thing ypu can do.

I strongly advice to train not exercise.

canadianlbs

CarvedTones wrote: »

using them carefully doesn't seem to be much exercise.

being 'careful' and doing it often enough that the exact definition of 'care' becomes ingrained in your neuropatterning doesn't sound like it's optional for you. you got to work with whatever you've got.

it's worth it. think of this as a long-term thing and this is the base coat. someone with a little leeway can probably do things wrongly (up to a specific point) without harming themselves permanently. but if there is an upside to not having that leeway, it's that you learn it right, right away.