Success at exercise

Sax

Hi all, we all know how difficult it can be to exercise when in pain, and how easy it is to become trapped in the circle of pain. I thought it may be a good idea to start a new thread where we can post examples of our own personal success stories at exercise. These can be very small personal success stories, or the most incredible examples of what can be achieved through exercise. Hopefully, these postings will serve as inspiration and encouragement for those who are having a very tough time, and help them to find the means to exercise. Lets encourage each other, and with a postive mindset we will overcome our pain!

PatriciaH

What a brilliant thread Sax

Before being diagnosed in May 2010, having had symptoms for several years, I was very fit. Attended the gym at least four times a week and was very active. Unfortunately, RA has taken all that away from me and I can only manage short walks on a good day. However, I take this as a positive step because this time last year I couldn't walk!!!

I am really looking forward to hearing all the exercise tips because I am desperate to do more but not matters worse for my recovery. I did try swimming lessons but my muscles went into complete spasm and it took a lot of work from an osteopath to put it right again. Think someone on here mentioned walking in the water and that seems like a good idea. Anyone tried that??

Looking forward to hearing all your 'advice'.

Pat x

valval

before arther came to visit was doing keep fit and walking miles after arther could not walk 5 min down road swimming was no good as water was to cold but with the right meds good physio can walk for half and hour still not tried swimming again unless on holiday some where warm do stretching exercises as wake up each morning go up and down stairs several times a day do garden and put the hoover around with vigor do not cause your self pain that lasts couple of hours after you have stopped but little and often helps good luck there a great range of exercises on here val

lindalegs

Hi Sax,

Whilst this thread is a good idea I think it must be said that all exercises, even swimming, people should check with their GP to find out whether they're suitable for them with their health problems as we're all different.

I've listed below my regime of leg exercises which were given to me by a fully trained physiotherapist. These have helped immensely with building up the strength in my legs and therefore taking away a lot of pain.

These exercises should be done at least once daily for maximum benefit.

Sit on a hard backed chair with a coffee table or similar in front of you. These exercises can also be done on your bed but you'll need a shiny board to put your legs on and you have to remember to sit bolt upright.

THIS IS TO WARM UP. With a leg extended in front of you on the coffee table slide your ankle up towards you and bend your knee as far as it'll go and then slide straight – 10 times. (To make your ankle glide more easily you can put a cloth under your heel.) Change legs and repeat.

THIS IS FOR HAMSTRING STRENGTH. Put both legs on coffee table and with your knees bent dig your heels as hard as you can into the table tensing your leg muscles and hamstrings – hold for 10 seconds and relax – repeat 10 times.

THIS IS TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE STRAIGHTENING YOUR KNEES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Put both legs on coffee table and with your legs straight pull your toes (toes only, do not move your feet) towards you, pushing the back of your knees downwards onto the table – your leg muscles and buttocks should be tense and your legs should be straight at all times and if you're doing it correctly your heels will lift slightly from the table, hold for 10 seconds – repeat 10 times.

THIS IS FOR THIGH MUSCLE STRENGTH. One leg at a time for this. Sit with your leg as straight as possible on the coffee table and keeping it straight, lift your heel from the table and hold about 6 inches off the table – keep there as long as possible, slowly lower – repeat 10 times and then do other leg.

THIS IS FOR KNEE STRENGTH. Roll a glass bottle up in a large bath towel and put it on the table under one of your knees, heel on the table. Lift heel till leg straight, hold and then lower slowly. Repeat 10 times and then do other leg.

THIS IS FOR GENERAL KNEE JOINT MOBILITY. Sit on the chair with your feet on the floor, slowly straighten one leg out in front of you, then pull back slowly under the chair as far as it will go. Repeat 10 times and then do other leg.

THIGH STRENGTH
Stand straight with your back against a wall with you heels about six inches from the wall. Keeping your feet still, slide your shoulders down the wall about eight inches or further (if possible) hold the position for as long as you can then slide up the wall again. Repeat 10 times.

Sit on a hard-backed or dining room chair, stand up slowly and sit down as slowly as possible (this has to be a controlled movement, not a plonk!), repeat for 2 to 5 minutes – this is not only good for toning up thigh muscles but is cardio vascular exercise also.


There are also other upper body exercises that are beneficial too and hopefully someone else can provide those.

I would stress again that you should check with your doc or physio before trying any of the above.

Hope this helps.

dreamdaisy

Call me a cynic but when I read this post I thought I could detect the delicate aroma of a tinned meat product. It seems a very strange first post for someone who joined today. Having said that, thank you legs! You reminded me of some exercises I had forgotten, so I shall give them a whirl later. DD

keith1971

With welcoming replies like that DD I realise why I don't bother posting on this site anymore!

Though you think you're helping some.....you're totally alienating others.

frogmorton

I try to get for a swim at often as l can....not alwas possible or easy and sometimes l just float a bit when l'm in there but l try anyway.

Legs you are right l DID check with my GP .

Welcome Sax to the forums from me.

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

Hey Keith! It's nice to hear from you again, how is the meth going? I hope it's helping and that things have settled down for you on the joints front.

I found the tone of the new thread odd, new people often start out by saying something about themselves and their arthritis history, not by boldly marching in and starting new threads. They are right, exercise is good if it can be done and as legs wisely pointed out, medical advice should be sought just in case.

This is a public place Keith, it has room for all and that includes the people you don't like. Arthritis is the common link but that's it: it doesn't mean we are all automatically best-buddies. I typed my first comment with sincerity - it is good to hear from you again, I hope the meth is helping and that you are as well as you can be. DD

tjt6768

Got to admit, my thoughts were the same as DD's.. Most newbies at least give some mention of arthur etc, would be inclined to class as a spammer.. Will apologise to them if I am wrong..
Harsh comments such as that ain't really gonna encourage newbies either Keith.


So, to cap... To the original poster, my humblest apologies if you are a genuine newbie here, but if you are a spammer, beggar off

Sax

Hi All, thank you for your replies. I assure you I am genuine and a long time sufferer of osteoarthritis. I apologise for not following the supposed correct etiquette when making my first posting. My posting was genuine and made with good intent. Such a shame that some of you have adopted such a suspicious stance, and I concur with some of the comments. This does nothing to encourage, and in fact has done the exact opposite. If the moderator is reading this, please feel free to remove my post. Such a shame, very sad indeed. Good luck to you all in the future.I will not post here again.

valval

please do not let others put you off posting val

elnafinn

Hi Sax

I feel so embarrassed and sorry at the way you have been treated. I hope this can be sorted out and that you will give us a second chance and continue to post.

Elna x

lindalegs

I think we all have to bear in mind that some people join the forum and just sit on the sidelines reading posts before they feel they can join in.

In this way they probably feel they know us all and therefore one day just get a great idea and want to launch themselves and a thread. Sax gave me the impression that this was how he/she felt (sorry can't tell by your name).

There were no links in his/her first post to suggest he/she was a spammer so it can only be taken as genuine.

There are no rules on how to start using the forums and we're all different in our approach. Enthusiasm, as this thread was started, should not be quashed, afterall we're in this together and should try to help one another.

I hope Sax comes back to us, he/she will be very welcome.

skezier

Hi Sax,

I hope you will keep [posting and not let a misunderstanding make you stop. Its a good place really but just lately thee has been a huge hit by spammers and that does effect things a bit.

I am delighted your real cus your right.... I have a huge amount of oa and pa and the rumo and pain clinic have said over and over its the fact I came into it with a lot of and good toned muscles that enables me to charge at it like a fool so much.

Legs pm'd me the exercises above and I have been doing them now for ... Legs is it 2 years as near as? I really believe it helps as well.

I can#t do a work out now a days, hell some days I am so bad it takes me over 2 hours to get going at all in the morning but I do have commitments and they mean I still have to do a fair old whack once i have got the body to remember what its meant to be doing.

Please post and its just a misunderstanding. Its cus of all the spammers we have had of late but please don't let it put you off cus I think you are so right.

It is use it of lose it to a degree but the arthritis is also well able to fight you tooth and nail and some days I just want to do nothing. I can't but I want to if that makes sense?

Nice to meet you and please keep posting cus there is no protocol to how you do your first post and well its just a misunderstanding Sax. Cris x

dreamdaisy

I too sincerely apologise, I found your thread odd and dared to say so. Most new ones say why they are posting, they at least hint at a history of arthritis. Perhaps the steoroid withdrawal stuff I am experiencing got the better of my patience and temper. Keith will be delighted you have proved me wrong so please post again if only to make his day! (And I know it will.) Please do not let one fat, pain-ridden woman in East Anglia put you off: I've been told to remember that some may be having a bad day, and I would like to think the same courtesy could be extended to me. Probably not, but here's hoping. I am so sorry. DD

jillyb1

Good grief , can we no longer comment or voice an opinion on here without offending someone or other ? We are all different and all cope in different ways ; but surely the least we can do is support each other through this ghastly illness without resorting to personal attacks ! As to exercise ( the topic under discussion here ) , as I don't drink alcohol , I'm suddenly being driven to exercise my jaws with chocolate . Jillyb

tjt6768

I do and also already have apologised. I don't think my post could have been mis read. I did state that I offer full and humble apologies and yes.. I was guilty of assumption, but I hope that it should not give reason for anyone to leave.
It seems we have that many spammers these days that we have become suspicious, I'm quite sure that nobody meant any malice to any innocent people so as adults we should just be able to take it for what it was, a misunderstanding basically.

Come in folks... We ARE all in this dross together.

lindalegs

skezier wrote:

Legs pm'd me the exercises above and I have been doing them now for ... Legs is it 2 years as near as? I really believe it helps as well.

Hi Cris, I sent you the PM 24th September 2009 ...........how cool are you guessing 2 years ....................and how sad am I that I know the date :oops: :roll:

Glad they're helping you, I know they help me.

Love

skezier

Hi Legs,

Been doing them a while then Sure they do help but I honestly do know, like you, the power of muscle tone where useless bones are concerned.

Love and a cuppa and a hope Knew-Knee is being a good boy?

Cris who has done the knee one so often cus well.....you never know if I can get off palliative which I might have mentioned xx

elnafinn

Good morning Sax

I see you are on line. I hope you will forgive us and continue to join in on the different zones.

Elna x

tjt6768

Good morning from me too, hope today is a wonderful day for you

elainebadknee

Hi

I have read your post and your last line says with poistive mindset we will overcome our pain..
Im sorry your experience on the forum hasnt been a good one and yes people can say things with tact but think on this occasion a tongue couldve been bitten.
You did nothing wrong and if youre reading wish you all the best...

Elainex

Sax wrote:

Hi all, we all know how difficult it can be to exercise when in pain, and how easy it is to become trapped in the circle of pain. I thought it may be a good idea to start a new thread where we can post examples of our own personal success stories at exercise. These can be very small personal success stories, or the most incredible examples of what can be achieved through exercise. Hopefully, these postings will serve as inspiration and encouragement for those who are having a very tough time, and help them to find the means to exercise. Lets encourage each other, and with a postive mindset we will overcome our pain!