Sitting Cardio

[Kat_Roslyn]

I think my last post was deleted but this was a legitimate question. What would anyone recommend for a cardio workout for someone in a wheelchair that cannot get outside and is forced by a body brace to be reclined at 45 degrees? I was thinking of maybe ocean kayaking, can you do it reclined? Or one of those sitting bikes, though it is a problem to move legs.

[rob]

...for someone in a wheelchair that cannot get outside...

How can you go kayaking if you cannot get outside?

 

Seriously, though, I would think wheeling a chair around would be pretty good excercise. I remember hearing once about a wheelchair-bound guy who did some sort of arm-pedaling bike thingy...I'll see if I can find the link.

Edited December 21, 2006 by robmcdan

[Kat_Roslyn]

Well, I can't get outside by myself.

oh, I think I might know what you're talking about with the arm bike, that's a good idea.

[Couloir]

You could watch this show. It's on public Broadcasting.

[fern]

I asked Greg Glassman (the crossfit guy) about his experience with training of paraplegics. He seemed to think that without engaging the lower extremities and torso you are pretty inhibited in how much cardiovascular respiratory stress you can put on your body, and the training becomes limited by local muscular stamina. I.e. your arms will tire out before your lungs and heart get a pounding. I would expect this is particularly true if your CVR endurance is already well conditioned from your activities with full body function and your disability is a temporary one.

[rob]

Cardiovascular responses in paraplegic subjects during arm exercise.

[layton]

Kat, take an entire package of NoDoze, buy a bag of 1,000 tiny balloons, and inflate them all.

[rob]

BTW, I don't know where you live but the Pro Club in Redmond has two hand-cycle machines. I saw them this morning -- they look pretty cool, actually, and the resistance adjusts really nicely.

[AlpineK]

I don't have quite the problems Kat does, but I am interested in getting back in shape. Right now I've mostly been going for walks, which is great, but I think I could start doing some easy cardio workouts at the gym. My doctors tell me to stick to walking. but I think I could be doing more.

 

Any thoughts?

[Kat_Roslyn]

The doctors say I have 4-6 months before walking but I am thinking that once I get out of this body brace in 1-2 months I may be able to swim because it is non-weight baring on the legs.

 

Maybe you could talk to them about swimming, like maybe with just a kickboard or wearing a stomach thing and do underwater running. Super low impact but a good change. If not, I'll be moving to Seattle soon and would like to have a long distance walking partner when I can again.

[AlpineK]

I'll probably keep up the walking, so give me a shout when you're up to it.

[catbirdseat]

Walking is good. Have you started taking on hills yet?

[billcoe]

The doctors say I have 4-6 months before walking

 

CBS, check out what she said about walking up there.

____________________________________________________

 

Layton, no prescribing before you get a diploma.

 

_____________________________________________________

 

kat, wuh happened? You fall on the 1st pitch of White Satin as the last person on the rope while simulclimbing that 2 pitch climb with 3 people?

[brukb]

If you are completely unable to use your legs, then swimming is great but has a couple of logistical challenges. An "upper body ergometer", aka hand bike will work well too if you can find a gym or a rehab clinic that has one.

In 2004 I spent I worked at the Hawaii Ironman with Carlos Moleda, a paraplegic who won the handcycle division. He swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles, and wheeled his chair 26 miles, all in about 15 hours. The dude definitely developed massive cardio abilities just using his arms.

Cheers,

Bruk

[Kat_Roslyn]

Wow, thank you Bruk, that guy sounds amazing. It is good for the pysche hearing of people like. I will be able to start swimming soon, I am so excited.

-Kat

[Blake]

I want to know the story on how you got in a body brace and all that.