Low Weight Bearing Workout
Q & A with Therapist Lauren Bounds
A member with a variety of symptoms is looking for help losing weight. 
Dear Lauren,
I am diabetic with peripheral neuropathy, fybromyalgia, scoliosis and need 2 hip replacements. Is there some type of exercise I can do to lose weight? I have lost 55 pounds put on by steroids, but can't seem to get past that number. I am 5'2" tall and weigh 152 pounds. Way too much!
Is there any program that can help me besides swimming (I freeze in the water due to Sjogren's). I have also had 39 operations and a shoulder cuff repaired 2 times without any pain relief. I also have carpal tunnel syndrome.
Is there any help for me? I wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't answer as I am quite a mess.
Sincerely,
Wants to Get Moving
Dear Wants to Get Moving,
First of all I would like to commend you on your weight loss… you go girl!!
Fortunately for you there is some exercise you can do to help facilitate your weight loss. Considering your pre – existing conditions and without a full history and evaluation, I would recommend some light cardiovascular exercise to help burn those calories and increase muscle tone.
The safest cardio exercise for you would be that of limited weight bearing (due to the condition of the hips) such as the stationary bicycle or the elliptical machine. If it’s been a while since you’ve exercised then I would suggest starting with 10-20 minutes 3 times a week or every other day and increase time as tolerated.
Once you’ve mastered 30-45 minutes increase the resistance a little. If you tend to get bored easily switch it up and do 15 minutes on the bike and 15 minutes on the elliptical machine.
Be sure to watch your posture; keep your ears, shoulder, hips all in a straight line. While on the elliptical be sure to tighten your abdominals to engage your core muscles, gently pull your belly button in towards your spine, if you can’t breathe or speak you are trying to hard. Being more conscience of your posture during exercise will help strengthen your core. The key for you is going to be taking it slow.
With your medical history I am hesitant to suggest any resistance training exercise without a full physical therapy evaluation to assess your range of motion and perform strength tests. Another option is for you to check your health care benefits and see a physical therapist who can get you started on a safe exercise program for you. Depending on your insurance benefits you may or may not need a referral from a physician to have physical therapy, just call the phone number on your insurance card to find out the details of your healthcare plan.
Lastly, remember that consistency is the key and that some exercise is better than none. Stick with it long enough and you will see and feel results.
Good Luck!
~ Lauren
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