Exercise/strength/mo bility

Thing about Pilates is keeping body position, so a good instructor is key. With videos, it's easy to think you're copying the exercise but if you video yourself, it would look really different.

Sharp pains tend to indicate an acute injury. I would go get an x-ray, try your local minor injuries unit, if there is one. Otherwise, I think if you have a good local physio, it might be worth an MOT. So easy to get adaptations from falling, it knocks you about.

Having got Dupuytrans in my hand and the beginnings of Ledderhose in my foot I'm worried about what to do exercise wise moving forward [it seems it could make me prone to frozen shoulder as well [gulp]]. I've been advised to checkout Hanna Somatics, something I'd never heard of. Wonder if it's similar to T'ai chi?

Where did that question mark come from . Huh.

Fascinating thread. I run, cycle, plus off road mountain bikingand work out and exercise very hard? Sciatica comes and goes. This thread has however prompted me to sign up for a beginners Pilates class with a highly respected teacher. Thanks everyone for the postings.

Hi Jay586, you've given some sound advice on here and I wonder if you can give me your thoughts on this. On Tuesday evening, for no reason that I could think of, I had six or seven very short bursts of severe pain within a couple of hours, like a sharp electric shock, in my right outside ankle bone. I am generally fit and healthy, but did give up running three years ago when I developed awful sciatica radiating from my lower back to my knee. Since then I've just walked a lot instead and had no problems, but I'm wondering if this could be a form of sciatica? The only other thing I could think of is that I had a fall about 6 weeks ago tripping over a raised metal cover in the pavement. I did crash into the thing with my right foot, but haven't had any pain at all there. A trapped nerve perhaps? I've just got back to doing yogalates at home this week (I broke a bone in my hand when I fell) and have had no other symptoms. Obviously if this happens again, I'll be off to the GP, but have you any advice please?

Re sciatica. I always thought sciatica was a sort of dull ache but was in a lot of pain for weeks . I think it's best to try to take the minimum of pain relief and gently potter around to rest but to keep mobility. I did find acupuncture helped , found an osteopath who used it. Does take about 6 to 8 weeks for the nerve to heal. Also found that a couple of doses of diazepam at night really helped me sleep.GP was prepared to give me 5 tablets. Am fine now although that leg is a bit week. Also push GP for an mri and think about a micro discectomy.

Jay 586, very glad I ve found you. I cycle a bit to the allotment but my fitness levels have really dropped recently. My knees get painful sometimes. I haven't found an ideal swimming pool yet and I am lazy about everything. . Where shall I start?

I used that in a physio class. They are good. Probably worth having your own and using daily.

these are supposed to be good. If you can stay on the thing

Yes I'd like to know too, Tegan. Well done on weight loss !

I wear a patella knee band strap on the knee I had problems with a few years ago, as any sudden sideways movement causes soreness for quite a while afterwards. I was using heavier weights that usual at the gym, thinking it would strengthen my knees but then I realised my good knee was doing all the work, so I've gone back to lower weights and make sure both legs work as hard.I've also stopped using the bike machines and rowing machine as they seem to hurt my knees. I'm hoping that I'm strengthening them up in case I need a knee op in the future. I've lost weight and toned up for a family wedding; lost a stone in weight and about an inch all over but, after the wedding I'm going to switch to Pilates, T'ai chi and yoga. I've bought a 'idiots guide' ten minute dvd for each one to get started. My friend runs a T'ai chi class but, the one time I went, I found it far too confusing so I didn't go again. What are the pre knee op exercises that would strengthen my knees?

A general fitness class or more a rehab kind of thing, for people who've had surgery and those with arthritic problems? I'd like a class that helped with my knees and increased my flexibility tho TBH I find Pilates has done that for me. i think your class should explain what each exercise does and what certain people should avoid or do differently. Good luck with it.

Jane, I think you need to see the GP. It's possible to have arthritic attacks but finding the cause of the current inflammation is important before deciding to do Kore or less. No ice. Have you thought about what you eat with relation to the inflammation? Have a Google.

Bella. I'm so glad I've helped!

Thanks for the sciatica tips.

So I'm thinking of running a class locally. If you could choose, what would you want to do or learn? (-:

J586. Thanks for asking. I used the link you gave and do a couple of the exercises each day. In addition I use the pool for swimming (I don't do breast stroke legs as I gather that's not good), and I walk up and down the pool. The article starts by saying walking is good for knee problems but i thought the opposite was true. However I do enjoy walking and do very short amounts. My knees hurt constantly, not just from time to time. Getting up from a chair or out of bed is excruciating but after a while they warm up. Do you think wearing one of those tight stretchy things on the knee is helpful - I forget what they're called. However, you have given me motivation and that's what I needed. I'm off to the pool again tomorrow so that I keep it up.
Granjura - oh I'm sure they do!

*Jane10 perhaps a different type of exercise - after rest?
Perhaps the water is too cold, we should gently warm up before exercise.

J586 the sciatica could be from several reasons; I had it when pregnant because of the way I was standing and walking - and not wearing orthotics for several years, which I should use. Perhaps she needs to see a podiatrist as she may need some corrective insoles to help her?
A friend was treated for sciatica but it was in fact polymyalgia rheumatica, for which she is had steroid treatment and is now like a spring chicken again!
Don't let the GP fob her off with just painkillers.

At school 'Miss, can't remember the FRench word for swimming-pool'

Me 'it's easy to remember- you musn't do it' -he never forgot after that.

My knees are sooo sore. It seems to be some sort of flare up as its bilateral. They got a bit better when I was off Aquafit with a bad cold. I went back to it this week and now they're excruciating. There's a cold ache starting from my ankles up but my knees are sharply painful with almost every step. Don't know whether to rest, heat, ice or exercise more!

How are we all doing?

Any questions?

People do, which is why I want my own pool...

How are we all doing? My motivation has hit a sticky patch...have a new programme but not getting on with it.

No, it was the Pilates, GJ ! With Aqua she would have got away with it. I wonder if anyone does? Yuk !

Aqua aéerobics twice a wee ... lol your post really made me chuckle wonderful ahahahaha

I have arthritis and now working on losing weight and doing Pilates twice a wee. Aqua aerobics but I don't wear the webbed gloves and walk with groups plus getting my 10000 steps in each day.

Given the collective wisdom here, can I ask about sciatica?

My MiL is really struggling & she's not very receptive to ideas to help but if you have any suggestions, I'd be grateful!

I think you would struggle to get your HR up for long enough. Your muscles would give up way before through lactic acid build-up. The body will always protect life.

However, that said & given I was discussing going to play squash & remembering 80's tales of men dropping dead earlier, I would say work up to things carefully.

One of the benefits of training is the heart gets larger & more muscular and the blood supply to the muscles improves. This is a process of adaptation tho, so takes time. One of the reasons I don't like jogging for fat loss is that people do too much, too soon when unaccustomed to it.

I'm going to look up a proper answer tho!