Re: measures to get for fit for the surgery

[Guest guest]

Behnam,

My understanding is that for 'bone strength' one would need to do weight

bearing exercises like walking, running, and working with " weight training "

such

as: squat or lunge exercises- all which are hard to do with hip arthritis.

Any work with weights or resistance bands can help bone strength. Many

people have found the stationary bike or water exercises to be more practical

for

arthritis.

I think muscle strength and flexibility will be more important than bone

strength in the recovery stage. Bone strength should come rapidly with the

increased walking in post surgery.

Best Regards,

Saeed

[Guest guest]

Behnam,

My understanding is that for 'bone strength' one would need to do weight

bearing exercises like walking, running, and working with " weight training "

such

as: squat or lunge exercises- all which are hard to do with hip arthritis.

Any work with weights or resistance bands can help bone strength. Many

people have found the stationary bike or water exercises to be more practical

for

arthritis.

I think muscle strength and flexibility will be more important than bone

strength in the recovery stage. Bone strength should come rapidly with the

increased walking in post surgery.

Best Regards,

Saeed

[Guest guest]

To add to this, load-bearing exercises will probably not do much pre-op if

you cannot maintain proper skeletal alignment to transfer the forces.

However, I would do as much to get in shape as possible pre-op since this

not merely will help you speed your recovery (be sure to do cardio

training), but added upper body strength will make your life a lot more

comfortable in the first week post-op: your lower half will be sore and

being able to move using your arms will be quite welcomed.

I agree with Saeed that your bone density will improve post-op. I had a

bone density scan at the 2 year mark and while we can't see what's under

the cap, everything around was definitely thicker and stronger. This

surprised the techie since he knew that people often lost bone density

after THRs.

-- jeff

>Behnam,

>My understanding is that for 'bone strength' one would need to do weight

>bearing exercises like walking, running, and working with " weight

training "

>such

>as: squat or lunge exercises- all which are hard to do with hip arthritis.

>Any work with weights or resistance bands can help bone strength. Many

>people have found the stationary bike or water exercises to be more

practical

>for

>arthritis.

>I think muscle strength and flexibility will be more important than bone

>strength in the recovery stage. Bone strength should come rapidly with the

>increased walking in post surgery.

>

>Best Regards,

>

>Saeed

[Guest guest]

To add to this, load-bearing exercises will probably not do much pre-op if

you cannot maintain proper skeletal alignment to transfer the forces.

However, I would do as much to get in shape as possible pre-op since this

not merely will help you speed your recovery (be sure to do cardio

training), but added upper body strength will make your life a lot more

comfortable in the first week post-op: your lower half will be sore and

being able to move using your arms will be quite welcomed.

I agree with Saeed that your bone density will improve post-op. I had a

bone density scan at the 2 year mark and while we can't see what's under

the cap, everything around was definitely thicker and stronger. This

surprised the techie since he knew that people often lost bone density

after THRs.

-- jeff

>Behnam,

>My understanding is that for 'bone strength' one would need to do weight

>bearing exercises like walking, running, and working with " weight

training "

>such

>as: squat or lunge exercises- all which are hard to do with hip arthritis.

>Any work with weights or resistance bands can help bone strength. Many

>people have found the stationary bike or water exercises to be more

practical

>for

>arthritis.

>I think muscle strength and flexibility will be more important than bone

>strength in the recovery stage. Bone strength should come rapidly with the

>increased walking in post surgery.

>

>Best Regards,

>

>Saeed

[Guest guest]

May I add a thought or two here...

As much as I hate the damned thing, the Stairmaster is actually quite

useful for leg conditioning. It keeps the quads working, gets a good

aerobic pump. I am forced to confess, however, that since the advent

of the serious left hip trouble, I've changed a few things. The

standard rule on the Stairmaster is that you use the handrails only

for balance...not to shift weight from the legs by leaning on the

rails. But I have found that if I support myself a little bit with

my hands on the rails, I can get a good aerobic pump...and still use

the hip, only with less than 100% of body weight. I do think it does

help to reduce the problem of load shielding.

As I imagine post-op recovery, I'll have to use my arms and upper

body to do things I'd normally use my legs and lower body for -- at

least for a few days. So, I've modified my weightroom workout: I

have started relying much more on " body weight " exercises... chin

ups, pull ups, dips and push ups. It's really given a lot more

definition and upper body strength much more quickly than the free

weights and machines. ((And if the above items are not useful,

possible, or available, a couple of lengths of theraband can work

wonders))

Hobble on, hippies...

Alan

> Behnam,

> My understanding is that for 'bone strength' one would need to do

weight

> bearing exercises like walking, running, and working with " weight

training " such

> as: squat or lunge exercises- all which are hard to do with hip

arthritis.

> Any work with weights or resistance bands can help bone strength.

Many

> people have found the stationary bike or water exercises to be

more practical for

> arthritis.

> I think muscle strength and flexibility will be more important

than bone

> strength in the recovery stage. Bone strength should come rapidly

with the

> increased walking in post surgery.

>

> Best Regards,

>

> Saeed

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

So, I've modified my weightroom workout: I

>have started relying much more on " body weight " exercises... chin

>ups, pull ups, dips and push ups. It's really given a lot more

>definition and upper body strength much more quickly than the free

>weights and machines.

Yup, I use these too. Organize them in opposed pairs to get the full

effect:

chin-up/pull-up <--> handstand push-up

dip/push-up <--> bar lateral pull (aka front lever)

dips are ok (a type of pushup). Vary them by pulling yourself up horizontal

(aka frog or tuck).

Check this out:

http://www.dragondoor.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?rm=mode3&articleid=229 for

some pix.

(Nasty amount of hype on this site and they charge a fortune for darn near

everything. Good pictures though.) And once you are fixed, do one-legged

squats

Have fun, er. or something >

Jeff

rBHR Aug. 1, 2001

Mr. McMinn

[Guest guest]

> Being as fit as possible and building as much upper body strength as

> possible is a wise and admirable goal. I found using my Bowflex

(weight

> machine) very valuable. I also rode my bike up through the last week

> prior to keep fitness and range of motion.

Likewise on both counts. I'd also recommend doing a lot of abdominal

(or to use the phrase du jour, " core " ) strengthening exercises. You'll

find abdominal strength quite useful in getting around the first week

or two, particularly if you're bilateral.

Steve (bilat C+ 4/20/04, Amstutz)