Re: swimming with jra

July 11, 2008

Helen,

Swimming is good but over doing it can cause a problem. Swimming laps may

be to much for her right now. Getting in the pool and just playing or

lightly moving the joints may be what she needs. If the water is to cool this

can

also have a issue as well.

loves to get in the pool. She does not do laps though. She walks

more in the pool and moves her arms and legs. Sitting on the steps or holding

to the sides and moving the legs is good. Sometimes my daughter in law will

pull her around on a float and moves along moving her legs. My

daughter in law also holds her in the water by the waist so can move

arms

and legs together.

It's amazing how water can help and improve the ROM. But over doing it

can cause a lot of issues. So I would say let her just play in the water for a

couple of weeks no swimming laps.

Robbin

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July 11, 2008

Swimming in moderation and with warm water is excellent for JA so long as

there are no on going flares. Swimming competitively is probably much more

strenuous than the occassional swimming for exercise or doing warm water

exercises.

I would recommend talking with the doc on this one......

Donna ************** Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows

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July 12, 2008

Thanks Donna and Robbin for your input.

I found it very helpful. As a kid, and the one with jra, she knows how much

pain she is in, and is the only one that knows her limits. So, we are just

listening to her and her body, and letting her tell us what she wants to do.

She is due to go back to the Rheumy, but I have had such a busy schedule, that I

haven't been able to get her in. That, and the doc is only there 2 days a

week. She has done laps before, but not for this amount of time. My husband

is a frequent lap swimmer, and she does a few laps with him, and then goes off

to play and be a kid in the pool. She loves to swim, jump off the diving

board, and dive down to get the rings off the bottom of the pool....but at this

time, the constant laps are proving to be too much for her. I also never

thought about the cold water effecting her. They swim from 10-11AM, and the

water is freezing at that time....but they have to do their practice before the

pool opens

up.

Thanks again,

Helen

Re: swimming with jra

Helen,

Swimming is good but over doing it can cause a problem. Swimming laps may

be to much for her right now. Getting in the pool and just playing or

lightly moving the joints may be what she needs. If the water is to cool this

can

also have a issue as well.

loves to get in the pool. She does not do laps though. She walks

more in the pool and moves her arms and legs. Sitting on the steps or holding

to the sides and moving the legs is good. Sometimes my daughter in law will

pull her around on a float and moves along moving her legs. My

daughter in law also holds her in the water by the waist so can move

arms

and legs together.

It's amazing how water can help and improve the ROM. But over doing it

can cause a lot of issues. So I would say let her just play in the water for a

couple of weeks no swimming laps.

Robbin

************ **Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music

scene in your area - Check out TourTracker. com!

(http://www.tourtrac ker.com?NCID= aolmus0005000000 0112)

July 12, 2008

Hi Helen,

Will also started swimming this summer for the first time on the swim team. He

was VERY nervous about keeping up but thankfully my niece is a coach and she is

keeping an eye out for him and reassured him that he doesn't need to keep up.

He has pain swimming breast stroke as his problems involve the knees. So, he

just doesn't swim that when the team does. Also, when he gets worn out or feels

pain during practice he just takes a little break at the side of the pool. He

doesn't even jump out of the pool. He just waits in the lane until he feels

like he can go again. He doesn't swim in the competitive meets, only the

practice meets, so there isn't any pressure for him to swim faster and shave

off time from his stokes. I'm so sorry your daughter is having trouble. I know

the swim season is almost over but I hope she is able to end it feeling

confident about how incredible she is! I think that such a problem - the kids

don't truly

know how incredible they are. We see all the struggles our kids endure and

overcome and our kids see the first place winners getting a ribbon and the fact

that they had to take breaks during practice and that kid didn't. Breaks my

heart!

(Will -10 pauci)

swimming with jra

Are there any active swimmers in here that are having trouble with

their jra as a result? My daughter is 9 1/2, loves to swim. The

doctor has always told us that swimming was the best thing for her,

since it is low impact. Finally, this year, I got her on the swim

team. She loves it, but she is in pain DAILY, as a result. I am

not sure if it is a pain from swimming so many laps, and she should

work though it, or if it really is her arthitis bothering her. She

can't decide which it is either, she just knows that her legs have

been killing her, on the days of practice. They swim for an hour,

4X a week, and do non stop laps for the hour. She has hid her pain

from me and the coaches up until a few days ago. She sat down with

me and told me she hated her life....and that she just wants to be

pain free! At just 9 1/2 I took that hard....so she decided to quit

the swim team, but her coaches were so understanding. They told her

not to quit, but to let us know when she is in pain, and to hop out

of the pool and take a break, not to do too many laps, and to take a

few days off. There is only 1 more week of practice, so she is

trying to stick it out till the end.....

I was just wondering if others have experienced the same pain or not.

Thanks,

Helen

July 12, 2008

I tried Arthritis Aquatics about 4 times at the Y in the spring, and I was in

the middle of a bad flare. I had to modify what I did. Any kind of repetitive

motion on a flared joint will cause pain. I agree with the others about the cool

water as well. Maybe she could do her practice when the pool is warmer? Sort of

like independent study?? I hope that she gets to feeling better soon. What a

trooper to keep on going despite her pain!! I'd talk to her rheumy about it,

just how controlled is her arthritis???

(RA) and Rob 19, spondy

swimming with jra

>

> Are there any active swimmers in here that are having trouble

> with

> their jra as a result? My daughter is 9 1/2, loves to swim. The

> doctor has always told us that swimming was the best thing for

> her,

> since it is low impact. Finally, this year, I got her on the

> swim

> team. She loves it, but she is in pain DAILY, as a result. I am

> not sure if it is a pain from swimming so many laps, and she

> should

> work though it, or if it really is her arthitis bothering her.

> She

> can't decide which it is either, she just knows that her legs

> have

> been killing her, on the days of practice. They swim for an

> hour,

> 4X a week, and do non stop laps for the hour. She has hid her

> pain

> from me and the coaches up until a few days ago. She sat down

> with

> me and told me she hated her life....and that she just wants to

> be

> pain free! At just 9 1/2 I took that hard....so she decided to

> quit

> the swim team, but her coaches were so understanding. They told

> her

> not to quit, but to let us know when she is in pain, and to hop

> out

> of the pool and take a break, not to do too many laps, and to

> take a

> few days off. There is only 1 more week of practice, so she is

> trying to stick it out till the end.....

>

> I was just wondering if others have experienced the same pain or not.

>

> Thanks,

> Helen

>

July 12, 2008

-Helen,

We put in a pool shortly after Nick was Dx and he has his best months

during the summer. he is out there daily, but doesnt do laps, just

plays around, floats on noodles, jumps off the side. he likes to swim

underwater the most.

While swimming is the best exercise I dont think I would ever put him

on a swim team because he cant self limit himself then. Right now he

swims when we wants and rests when he wants. But thats just my son,

Swim teams might be just the right medicine for some kids.

I would love Nick to be involved in some sport or something but so

far everything we have tried has not worked.

hugs Helen and (10,systemic)

-- In , " Helen " <hpense@...> wrote:

>

> Are there any active swimmers in here that are having trouble with

> their jra as a result? My daughter is 9 1/2, loves to swim. The

> doctor has always told us that swimming was the best thing for her,

> since it is low impact. Finally, this year, I got her on the swim

> team. She loves it, but she is in pain DAILY, as a result. I

am

> not sure if it is a pain from swimming so many laps, and she should

> work though it, or if it really is her arthitis bothering her. She

> can't decide which it is either, she just knows that her legs have

> been killing her, on the days of practice. They swim for an

hour,

> 4X a week, and do non stop laps for the hour. She has hid her

pain

> from me and the coaches up until a few days ago. She sat down with

> me and told me she hated her life....and that she just wants to be

> pain free! At just 9 1/2 I took that hard....so she decided to

quit

> the swim team, but her coaches were so understanding. They told

her

> not to quit, but to let us know when she is in pain, and to hop out

> of the pool and take a break, not to do too many laps, and to take

a

> few days off. There is only 1 more week of practice, so she is

> trying to stick it out till the end.....

>

> I was just wondering if others have experienced the same pain or

not.

>

> Thanks,

> Helen

>

July 12, 2008

Thanks everyone for your input. I love having this group to rely on.....it

makes my life easier, knowing that there are others out there with the same

issue. Her arthitis is very well controlled. She hasn't had a flare in a

long time. She takes mtx and the Enbrel shots, and has no problems other

wise. She just finished up baseball, and never had a problem with that sport.

I also signed her up for soccer in the fall. She did sports all the time, when

she was 5 and 6, and then her arthitis flared up badly, and hasn't even wanted

to play since. So, now that she is willing and able to get back into sports,

I am enrolling her in everything she wants to play!

, she swims the breast stroke and free style during practice. She has

only done 1 swim meet so far.. She missed the 1st 2, because of vacation...and

she decided to skip today's meet. I don't think she will do the next one

either...but I will wait and see if she wants to do it or not. The 1 meet she

did do, she got 7th place, out of 8 kids her age, not too bad. Especially,

since it was pouring down rain that day! They don't cancel the meet, unless

there is lightning and thunder.

anyways, she only has the 1 week left of swim practice, and I know she has to

miss one day, due to my busy schedule, but she is determined to finish out the

team, but at her own pace.........not theirs.

Helen

Re: swimming with jra

-Helen,

We put in a pool shortly after Nick was Dx and he has his best months

during the summer. he is out there daily, but doesnt do laps, just

plays around, floats on noodles, jumps off the side. he likes to swim

underwater the most.

While swimming is the best exercise I dont think I would ever put him

on a swim team because he cant self limit himself then. Right now he

swims when we wants and rests when he wants. But thats just my son,

Swim teams might be just the right medicine for some kids.

I would love Nick to be involved in some sport or something but so

far everything we have tried has not worked.

hugs Helen and (10,systemic)

-- In @group s.com, " Helen " <hpense@...> wrote:

>

> Are there any active swimmers in here that are having trouble with

> their jra as a result? My daughter is 9 1/2, loves to swim. The

> doctor has always told us that swimming was the best thing for her,

> since it is low impact. Finally, this year, I got her on the swim

> team. She loves it, but she is in pain DAILY, as a result. I

am

> not sure if it is a pain from swimming so many laps, and she should

> work though it, or if it really is her arthitis bothering her. She

> can't decide which it is either, she just knows that her legs have

> been killing her, on the days of practice. They swim for an

hour,

> 4X a week, and do non stop laps for the hour. She has hid her

pain

> from me and the coaches up until a few days ago. She sat down with

> me and told me she hated her life....and that she just wants to be

> pain free! At just 9 1/2 I took that hard....so she decided to

quit

> the swim team, but her coaches were so understanding. They told

her

> not to quit, but to let us know when she is in pain, and to hop out

> of the pool and take a break, not to do too many laps, and to take

a

> few days off. There is only 1 more week of practice, so she is

> trying to stick it out till the end.....

>

> I was just wondering if others have experienced the same pain or

not.

>

> Thanks,

> Helen

>

July 12, 2008

I did swim team when I was I younger in elementary and then again in 9th grade.

My shoulders are pretty much ruined from the constant repetitive motion of the

backstroke. I was really into it and absolutely loved it, but it was hard to

keep up at the 6am practices (it was year round swim team) and the air was so

cold during the winter months. The one benefit was that I rolled out of bed and

heading to the pool so a lot of my stiffness improved from the water and

thankfully it was a nicely heated pool, the bad thing was the cold air plus an

outside pool even during the summer caused a lot of respiratory issues. If there

is a non competitive pre swim team group try to get involved in that they will

push a lot less and work more on strengthening muscles. I actually miss swimming

a lot, unfortunately my lungs run out of air before I really have an opportunity

to swim like I use to. I say give it a shot, let the coach know that there are

special needs, and

see what happens. As a former kid with JA and now an adult with it, we know

when to stop, we will push ourselves yes, but we will stop when necessary. Best

of luck

With Love,

(MCTD, 23)

From: Helen Pense <hpense@...>

Subject: Re: swimming with jra

Date: Saturday, July 12, 2008, 6:54 AM

Thanks Donna and Robbin for your input.

I found it very helpful. As a kid, and the one with jra, she knows how much

pain she is in, and is the only one that knows her limits. So, we are just

listening to her and her body, and letting her tell us what she wants to do.

She is due to go back to the Rheumy, but I have had such a busy schedule, that I

haven't been able to get her in. That, and the doc is only there 2 days a week.

She has done laps before, but not for this amount of time. My husband is a

frequent lap swimmer, and she does a few laps with him, and then goes off to

play and be a kid in the pool. She loves to swim, jump off the diving board,

and dive down to get the rings off the bottom of the pool....but at this time,

the constant laps are proving to be too much for her. I also never thought

about the cold water effecting her. They swim from 10-11AM, and the water is

freezing at that time....but they have to do their practice before the pool

opens

up.

Thanks again,

Helen

Re: swimming with jra

Helen,

Swimming is good but over doing it can cause a problem. Swimming laps may

be to much for her right now. Getting in the pool and just playing or

lightly moving the joints may be what she needs. If the water is to cool this

can

also have a issue as well.

loves to get in the pool. She does not do laps though. She walks

more in the pool and moves her arms and legs. Sitting on the steps or holding

to the sides and moving the legs is good. Sometimes my daughter in law will

pull her around on a float and moves along moving her legs. My

daughter in law also holds her in the water by the waist so can move

arms

and legs together.

It's amazing how water can help and improve the ROM. But over doing it

can cause a lot of issues. So I would say let her just play in the water for a

couple of weeks no swimming laps.

Robbin

************ **Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music

scene in your area - Check out TourTracker. com!

(http://www.tourtrac ker.com?NCID= aolmus0005000000 0112)

July 14, 2008

Aubrey has been on swim team for several years but is not in flare. Currently

off of metx. When she swam on metx she would wear out quicker. My friend has a

son who has Hypermobility not jra and he hurts with swimming. Aubrey does not

her with it. Swim team is very intense especially a summer league Aubrey swims 5

days a week. If she like swimming you may think of Swim team at YMCA it is only

two days a week. We had two girls with JRA on our Swim Team and the Coach knew

about her Arthritis. Getting out when you have had enough is good. Or going

every other is good. I think your daughter is doing great. I would fall over

after 10 minutes in water.

Terri And Aubrey