Exercise/strength/mo bility

Husband has just pointed out that if you can borrow a child, then you can hang off things in the play park...

There are often trim trails or outdoor gyms too, they just often look a bit sad or underused. I also hang off railings & bike racks but then I'm a tad eccentric! (-:

I said I wouldn't put too many clicky links but I can't resist posting my favourites...

One of the issues with "exercise" as we get older is that the variation in capabilities widens, depending on all sorts of things, previous training, infirmities and even genetics.

So here are two vids from either end of the spectrum. :-)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3585w9FmOGs

and I've had the pleasure of watching Masters Crossfit Athletes for the last couple of years so humour me with this one. These guys are some of the best in the world at CF but I if I competed in the UK, I'm about the standard of the 60+ ladies and I am considerably younger than that, so I have a way to go!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRFBKVsE2H0

I need this thread, scheduled TKR on Friday next. Things could perhaps had been different had I done knee exercises while I could but I didn't. I had a 6 week knee class last year, everyone else there was post-op. It helped a lot but stupidly I didn't do the 20 minutes, am and pm, 5 days a week, physio that was advised afterwards. Knee suddenly deteriorated in April and some days now I can barely face getting out of bed in spite of painkillers. Losing weight would have helped too. All pain rather self-induced.
Anyway, assuming second pre-op on Tuesday goes well I'll have the new knee by next weekend.

I have started to vary my programme on the bike. Doing some heavy fast pedalling to get heart rate up. Does make it less boring. Will google kettle bell. I need to strengthen my back. Got a bit of kyphosis from a couple of spine injuries.

Yep, my Mum was in a really bad way before she had her knees done and it's taken so long for her to get anywhere as a result, mainly due to the muscle wasting. The knees themselves are great!

See, that's human nature, only deal with stuff once it's become an issue. I know I didn't address my weight until my bp went skyhigh and it's still an ongoing "journey".

Kettlebells, you don't have to swing them, they can be pressed and pulled too. Also good as doorstops! Don't go too light, looking at least 8kg.

Google "upper crossed syndrome" too and see what you think.

Forgot to say, don't underestimate bodyweight exercises. Not a soft option.

I'm not light, so a lot of bw stuff is heavier than I could lift if it was weights.

So, hanging, I use my legs to support some of the weight sometimes. I also use my knees for pressups and resistance bands to take weight off as well as add it.

One question that I have been wondering about, if you get your hear rate up to maximum, and then some, would you actually die?

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!

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 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.

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

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

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.

How are we all doing?

Any questions?

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!

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.

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.

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

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!

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? (-:

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.

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?

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

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

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