OA Knee Exercise Class

kittymedaughter

I have just had an appointment with a physio after my knee arthroscopy..he has suggested i attend OA knee Exercise Clinic, from what i can gather it will last an hour and half. I am feeling a little frustrated because the physio is only interested in my knee and i have fibro, so my limits are beyond my knee, infact the knee is the least of my problems.

Has anyone been to these classes, what kind of exercises do they do? It will mean me finishing work 3 hours early every week to attend and I don't want to cause a flare up of my fibro symptoms...I am just considering to keep doing the exercises the physio has given me and join the local swimming baths and try some exercise in water

I hate how this country discharges you once they cannot help you anymore..so frustrating..if i could lose weight over night i would, do these people think i like being overweight, it is the same answer all the time lose weight and exercise..at least i am overweight, I wonder what they say to people who are thin/not overweight who are reasonable fit

frogmorton

Hi KMD

I do understand your worries about aggravating the fibro :? The last thing you want to do is make things any worse!!

In your shoes I would go the first time and see what it's like. Don't do anything that I thought might cause knock-on problems and then assess whether there were consequences afterwards.

If it caused you problems afterwards you could then decide whether you went again if it's ongoing.

As for what they say when you are not overweight. they still fob you off, but dont say THAT bit

Love

toni xxx

JuliaHod12

Hi KMD

I've been to this type of class.............it was quite good in terms of me recognising what excercise i could do comfortably and finding my limits.
However the most beneficial thing i have done after an arthroscopy (I've had 3 on the same knee) is swimming.............well i dont swim, so it was really just excercises in a pool...............but it was brilliant.
The physio should take a "history" from you and you can explain about the fibro.,,,,,,,,,they can adapt any exercise program to suit...........they will also be able to suggest stuff you can do at home.

Best of luck xx

dreamdaisy

The first thing that hit my eye was the fact that the class lasts 90 minutes. :shock: I can think of two things I can do for 90 minutes and exercising isn't one of them.

I went to general exercise classes at the hospital gym after months of physio oafter both synovectomies and all they did was trigger further swelling in the operated joint so in the end I gave up. Mind you, at that stage no-one knew I had an inflammatory arthritis, maybe if they had the 'treatment' would have differed. You know your body better than anyone else and if you feel that this may not be useful then don't go but maybe its worth trying one class, just to see. Then you can make a really informed decision about its value to you. DD

stickywicket

I like frog's idea of suck it and see. I'd doubt you'd be on the go for 90 full minutes if it's a class. Probably a bit of this, stop for instructions, a bit of that etc - a kind of very low key circuit training. I've done it while in for physio and it was fun with lots of support from other people having similar difficulties. Try it. You don't have to go back if it's not for you.

freesia

I went to the physio for several weeks and then they suggested these knee exercise classes..... I find them actually very helpfull....

It's not a conventional "leotard" exercise class, it's a group of people in a similar situation to yourself, ie.. knee surgery / replacements ect, you can do as much or as little as you feel you can manage...

I still go 5 months after surgery and we actually all have a good laugh, we compare hints & tips, and help each other out "mentally too"...

I would definately recommend you go, obviously the group is only as good as the people who attend, so I hope you get a good bunch.... I've been really lucky...

Our group is run in the local hospital and there are many different small exercise areas, the aim of which is to gently build up your muscle strengh and confidence... ect, nothing to be afraid of... just wear comfortable clothes and shoes/trainers.... ours runs for 1 hour, but some weeks I go for just half hour.... it's quite flexible....

GOOD LUCK

kittymedaughter

Thank you for all your comments...seems a positive thing for me to give it a try..I wish they were in the evening though, 3 hours during working hours is alot and i am not sure my employer will be so generous to allow me even under reasonable adjustments. i will wait til i get the appointment and then see what it entails, like you say I could attend the first one and see how beneficial it will be to me and if it is maybe my employers will be in more agreement to me finishing work 3 hours early

)))

Folara

Hiya kmd,

It's seems really silly being at work time as that's a lot of time to be expected to take off.

I think go along to the first and then ask the leader if they can give you an exercise sheet that you can work from at home as its hard to take time off work etc. then if it's any good you could go maybe once a month.

I know what you mean about the fibro but sometimes we have to give it a go and see as sometimes the benefits outweigh the possible negatives.

Good luck x

kittymedaughter

Folara, It is my experience that a lot of support classes etc are during the working day, so it makes it impossible for someone who is working to attend, unless they work part-time or have lots of holidays to use up...lol...but that is such as life...need something repairing at home, they can never give you a set time, it is always between 9 -1 so you have to book the whole day off work...