Unable to Walk

tekwriter
tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
anyone have any ideas for when your walking is very limited. I have problems with my feet and ankles so can only walk a limited distance. Not enough to get a half hour in at one time. I cannot stand on them for that long either. I would love some ideas to help me get my exercise program started this year. Thanks

Replies

  • mmarcy7
    mmarcy7 Posts: 227 Member
    Swimming, water aerobics.
  • witchy_wife
    witchy_wife Posts: 792 Member
    Maybe try searching on you tube for wheelchair exercises? Although you might not be able to walk far you could still use arms and upper body to work out, am sure you would be able to get your heart pumping a bit and work your muscles. Good luck!
  • nejaustin
    nejaustin Posts: 76 Member
    Check with your community center or senior center. My mom does a seated exercise class and sitting yoga once a week each and LOVES it. I think Golds gym even has a Silver Sneakers class that uses a chair.

    There also should be DVD for seated exercise or you can probably find some on Youtube.
  • NaomiJFoster
    NaomiJFoster Posts: 1,450 Member
    There's a little bicycle padal gadget you can get for $25 at Walmart or Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Or order on the internet. You sit in a kitchen chair and put it on the floor in front of you and pedal. It goes forward and backward for uscle variety. Or you can put it on a table and use it with your hands for some upper body strength building. It's pretty nifty.

    There are also many Chair Aerobic videos on You Tube, and even on TV on Sunday mornings.
  • DaveHuby
    DaveHuby Posts: 175 Member
    Hi, when my mum was waiting for her hip replacements she went a couple of days a week to seated exercise classes, using weights, resistance bands, stretches etc, it helped to keep her going while walking was very difficult.

    She was referred to the classes by her GP and the nursing team.

    May be worth checking with your doctor. Or contact a physiotherapy specialist for advice

    Good luck. Dave :flowerforyou:
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Swimming, water aerobics.

    Ditto. If you don't belong to a Y, it is worth joining. My wife does a water class for people with arthritis (she is the youngest one in the class). My mother does one for people with fibromialgia.
    It takes the weight off the joints so the muscles can be exercised. Try it. You'll like it.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    stationary bike
  • debs6
    debs6 Posts: 232 Member
    If would start doing short bursts of walking - whatever you are comfortable with and do as many of them as you are comfortable with. There is no reason exercise has to be done in one session. A few years ago here in Australia there was a health promotion campaign that suggested walking for short periods of time frequently. Maybe three, four or five sessions of ten - fifteen minutes:) good luck with it!
  • lucyricky2
    lucyricky2 Posts: 450 Member
    I don't know how limited you are but a exercise bike would keep you off your feet and you could still excercise. My niece had a liver transplant and was bed ridden for many months because of complications. She is on the bike now even though she can"t walk to far.
  • felice03
    felice03 Posts: 2,644 Member
    Any movement is better than no movement. Set little goals if you can walk for just a couple minutes, do that and try it several times a day. Get some light hand weights (or can of food can be a great subsitute) and do simple movements using those several times a day....it all adds up! Just do what you can and you WILL see progress!
  • HypersonicFitNess
    HypersonicFitNess Posts: 1,219 Member
    Well, 1 - walk for 5 minutes at a time at a pace you can do;
    2 - water aerobics or water walking; here's a link to the best water belt -- http://www.watergym.com/content/sf.asp
    3 - stationary bike
    4 - some gyms (if you belong to one) have hand bikes; you sit at it and pedal with your hands
    5 - Do hand weights
  • Echosapa
    Echosapa Posts: 19 Member
    I would encourage the water aerobics and the stationary workouts. I had an accident and ended up bedridden for about 4 months. I couldn't do water aerobics at the time because of a cast but as soon as I was out and in physical therapy I spent alot of time in the pool. While I was at home though I tried to do the chair exercises. I had difficulty because on top of the broken leg I also had a broken shoulder, but it was something to keep me active. Any movement is good movement.
  • Nette_54
    Nette_54 Posts: 265 Member
    water aerobics is a great way to go ! As Vmgals said do shorts walks as far as you can and try to go for longer every couple of days till you can go quite a bit even if it is just walking up and down your hall so you get stronger. Check with your doctor if it is okay to do that too. I have walking problems myself and it does help to start small and work your way up
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    Depending on what your problems are, a physical therapist or trainer might be able to help you build enough strength in your feet and ankles to improve the walking.
  • drgndancer
    drgndancer Posts: 426 Member
    Lots of great answers here, and for the long term I think swimming and water aerobics are your best bet for sustained activity. That said, if your problems with your feet and ankles are related to weight and/or strength (as opposed to something more physiological like muscle or ligament damage), look at walking short distances and increasing those distances over time. The best way to solve strength problems is to strengthen the muscles, joints and connective tissue involved. Since walking is a great thing to be able to do regardless of its exercise benefits (mobility is a pretty awesome thing) improving your ability to do it will not only give you exercise benefits, but improve your life overall.
  • Amazon_Who
    Amazon_Who Posts: 1,092 Member
    Check for chair yoga or other chair based exercise classes in your area. They have them at the YMCA in my area.
  • FishingFan123
    FishingFan123 Posts: 48 Member
    I guess, in order to really help, we'd need to know is this Arthritis, or pain from being overweight.

    I had severe hip arthritis & used a walker (eventually a wheelchair), but at the time, was too young to get a hip replacement. So, with Physical Therapy help on choosing what exercises to do, I (on my back on an exercise table, except of course the bike):

    Rode a stationary bike

    Did leg exercises with ankle weights & stretchy straps

    Used an exercise ball.

    Swimming was an option, but there wasn't a pool within 50 miles of me (I lived in a rural area).

    Your best option is getting a referral to physical therapy from your physician, & going to PT. PT will teach you exercises to do at home with cheap equipment (like Walmart cheap prices on equipment). For people with cost issues, my PT tried to only have you go there maybe 3 times, just to make sure you were doing the exercises correctly.

    HTH
  • 2hobbit1
    2hobbit1 Posts: 820 Member
    Have you considered tai chi? It consists of slow fluid motions that are meant to improve flexibility, strength, balance and health. it can be done standing or seated.

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