Help with gym equipment please

furby1

I'm a 61 year old female, with spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, chronic sciatica mainly in the right leg and over the last 3 months a trapped femoral nerve in the left leg!

The femoral nerve issue finally made me realise I have to do something NOW about my weight and also my fitness. Until then I hardly walked anywhere due to the pain, but I felt that unless I want to end up in a wheelchair very soon, I need to still get up and go.

So I'm seeing a physio who is helping with the femoral nerve, started pilates, bought a stationary bike and have joined a 12 week program for people with disabilities at my local gym. They assessed me and have got me on the treadmill and bike and have me doing squats, and sets on the chest pull and chest press equipment.

As I'm now cycling on average 8 miles a day (split in 2 sessions) at home, I'm concentrating on the treadmill and weights at the gym, which I go to twice a week. My physio has said not to use the rowing machine and I will be asking next week about the cross trainer.
I've upped the treadmill from my first week (3 weeks ago) when I did 10 mins at 1.5 resistance at 4.0km once, to today I did 14 mins at 2.0 resistance at 4.7km twice.
The chest pull 3 weeks ago was 7.5kg x12 once , today it was 12.5kg x12 3 times, and the chest press was 15kg x12 once and today 25kg x12 3 times...I also did 15 squats 3 times

Unfortunately there isn't always a trainer around and when there is he seems busy, so if anyone could offer me advice I would be greatful, there is other equipment and would also like to know if any of them would help me

furby1

Bump!...any advice please

DavPul

This is a tough one! First, congrats on your progress so far. Looks like you are doing great to me. I'm not 100% sure what your question is, but I think you're looking for more exercises to do? I think no one wants to touch this because you have some serious physical issues that you need to work around and no one ones to suggest something that puts in you in pain or at risk for serious injury.

All I can suggest is having your physio give you a list. He/she should also be able to demonstrate what the equipment should feel/look like, even without the equipment. And if you take the list to the gym with you someone there should be able to show you where to find it and how to use it. Sounds like you gym has a program for folks just like yourself.

I can't stress the importance of having a person knowledgeable about your condition show you what to do and warn against what you shouldn't attempt.

Good luck and great work so far!

furby1

Thank you, I did wonder if that was why no one was answering

Guess I really wanted more advice on the strenghening exercises...I upped the chest pull and press myself, and was wondering if it was better for me to pull more weight but less sets (hope thats the right terminology!)...I know I can add at least another 2.5kg to both and do 7 sets, add 5kg and I could do 3 sets as I tried that today in the gym..but no one was around to ask.....hopefully I may be able to talk to someone next week when I go..again thank you

jofjltncb6

Thank you, I did wonder if that was why no one was answering

Guess I really wanted more advice on the strenghening exercises...I upped the chest pull and press myself, and was wondering if it was better for me to pull more weight but less sets (hope thats the right terminology!)...I know I can add at least another 2.5kg to both and do 7 sets, add 5kg and I could do 3 sets as I tried that today in the gym..but no one was around to ask.....hopefully I may be able to talk to someone next week when I go..again thank you

In my opinion, if your form is rock solid...and only IF it is...then there may be benefits to occasionally doing fewer sets/reps with more weight. However, if in any doubt whatsoever, default to the lower weight. I can't cite studies to support this, but I'm reasonably certain that, in general, increasing the weight increases the risk of injury...and avoiding injury should be a very VERY high priority (for you and for most everyone else too).

That said, wait until you can ask your physio for his/her opinion on this question. IMHO, you should always more highly value the advice of a good trained professional over a random voice on the internet.

Good luck on your continued success.