What to do while foot is being immobilized?

slieber
slieber Posts: 765 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
My foot is not broken, thank goodness - and no stress fracture was detected. For background, I train in ballet about 17 hours a week, do about 5-6 hours of cross training at the gym a week - 30 mins cardio, abs, stretching, and try to do upper body weights at 2x per week. I dance on pointe about 4 hours a week.

So, well, I'm intensive right now, toward a goal of doing something in August with the dancing.

Anyway, my foot's given out - no swelling, but major pain. I'm not very young, you see, and this likely is an old injury flaring up. The doctor has me in a boot, on crutches for 2-3 days, boot thereafter, with mega NSAID twice a day for at least 7 days. He said I can ease back into ballet training but must wear the boot when not in class.

At my age - middle age - even a day off training means two to three days getting close to where I was before, although I do try to get at least one day off from exercise a week anyway.

I know I can still do upper body weights, but how can I get cardio in? I don't want to do anything to stress out those foot ligaments any more than they are already stressed out. I need to be in as top form as possible for my activity in August - when I'll be on pointe daily for at least 2 hours, if I remember last year's program correctly.

I was thinking of swimming but I don't want the foot moving around so much. Is it possible to put it in a brace and swim? Also, if I get "it" (and I'm close to "it" now) I won't be able to swim for the week in that case. What else can I do for cardio?

Replies

  • SexySize9
    SexySize9 Posts: 43
    When you find the answer, let me know. I am scheduled for foot surgery on Wednesday. I kicked up my workout for the last week and put an excessive amount of strain on my foot. I should be out of commission for about 6 weeks and fear my weight loss will return plus.
  • kankan213
    kankan213 Posts: 105
    Try doing other weight-training so that you are staying in shape and still burning calories and the like. Are you able to ride a stationary bike?
    Also, the rowing machine is good cardio and you do not need to utilize your foot.
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    Rowing? Really? Can I do that with one foot off the machine? That's a great idea, if it's possible!!

    Weights I'd already decided I could do. Fortunately, I can go during the day now so I won't have to fight for any machines. Would need to do some sort of warm-up, and that idea of the rowing machine sounds like it would work.

    I can't ride a stationary bike. The idea is to immobilize the foot for a few days, completely, keeping all weight, et. al. off it, even while in the boot.

    Thanks for the rowing idea!! :-)
  • twilight
    twilight Posts: 11
    good question. im in the same boat. i have an extra navicular bone and tendon problems in my foot. ive had it for 5 years. i play volleyball, basketball, and soccer in school right now, and am also a big waterskiier. it sucks, because i have been in and out of a boot for a long time. they are finally doing surgery soon, and then hopefully my problems will be corrected. (at least the ones that can be corrected by this surgery :wink: ) lol

    they told me to do water stuff, because it has the least ammount of impact of all physical activity. i know that you dont want it moving around too much, but given that it will give you the least impact, this is your best option right?

    for your week without, you should try the row machine

    hope this helps =D
  • gurgi22
    gurgi22 Posts: 182 Member
    I'm not sure if your gym has one, but you might want to ask if they have a hand bike. If not, then they are available at places that do physical therapy and rehab. If you wanted to buy one, a very basic one cost only about $200. It will give you a great cardiac workout and strengthen your arms and upper body.
  • Iceprincessk25
    Iceprincessk25 Posts: 1,888 Member
    The upper body ergometer (arm bike) would be a great thing for you for sure!!

    Did they just X-ray your foot or did they do a bone scan?? Early stress fractures don't show up on normal X-rays right away but they will show as hot spots on bone scans.
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    They did an X-ray. If this was a real stress fracture, it would have shown I think by now, since I was overdoing things since Tuesday. Or wouldn't it?

    I went to the urgent care clinic for this one. The X-ray was quite clear. I'm planning to make an appointment with my podiatrist as well, at the office that has all the bells and whistles in equipment. He can put my foot under a scope in "real time" right then and there and the picture is crystal clear. Kinda scary because a stress fracture would be rather devastating right now.

    My gym doesn't have an arm machine. Of that, I'm sure. It's an LA Fitness.
  • kankan213
    kankan213 Posts: 105
    Hmm.... water-aerobics might be a great idea!

    I was having foot issues early on in the summer and it turned out that I had a pinched nerve. From wearing flats to work (stupid business casual) I ended up having a nerve slip between my second and third metatarsal (is that in the foot? lol) and it was causing my nerve to send haywire pain to my brain. Apparently all I had to do was wear the same shoes (tennis shoes) for like a month until the nerve had stopped being enflamed and moved to the appropriate spot.

    Hopefully you don't need surgery, I'll cross my fingers for you!
  • Iceprincessk25
    Iceprincessk25 Posts: 1,888 Member
    They did an X-ray. If this was a real stress fracture, it would have shown I think by now, since I was overdoing things since Tuesday. Or wouldn't it?

    I went to the urgent care clinic for this one. The X-ray was quite clear. I'm planning to make an appointment with my podiatrist as well, at the office that has all the bells and whistles in equipment. He can put my foot under a scope in "real time" right then and there and the picture is crystal clear. Kinda scary because a stress fracture would be rather devastating right now.

    My gym doesn't have an arm machine. Of that, I'm sure. It's an LA Fitness.

    You said your foot has been hurting since Tuesday? So.....no...if it was a stress fracture then it wouldn't show up on that X-ray. It's too new. :noway:

    For sure go to your podiatrist and see what he says since he's the expert! :bigsmile:
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    AArrgh. I live in hope. Even after 1 day in the boot, though, the foot's feeling a LOT better.

    I'm planning to beg my podiatrist to see me today, if at all possible. As I have pretty much the whole day available, I'm hoping I can be fit in asap.
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