Stay Off Your Feet and Stay Fit
Q & A with Therapist Lauren Bounds
A member in Glendale needs advice to help her mother.
Dear Lauren,
My mother has arthritis and osteoporosis in her feet. She has always been an active person and has walked a lot. However, it is very difficult for her to walk far distances now. She must keep her weight down and physical activity up due to other health issues (specifically heart). What type of exercise or activity would you suggest?
Thank You!
Dear Beth Ann,
Since walking for exercise is no longer an option for your mother I would suggest any non-weight-bearing exercise. One example would be riding a stationary bike. All of the local gyms have many bikes, these include the upright bike and the recumbent bikes, which are the ones with a back rest. My guess is she would be more comfortable on the recumbent bike. She DOESN'T need to crank up the resistance to reap the benefits. I would recommend starting with just a few minutes, 5 - 10, and increase time as tolerated. Once she has mastered 30-40 minutes add a little resistance.
Another option would be aquatic exercise in a swimming pool. Many of the local gyms offer aquatic classes for seniors. The water is typically heated to 85-92 degrees, so it feels good on the muscles and joints. If she is not interested in the classes, she could simply walk in pool. Just walking forward, backward and sideways provides a great workout. It sounds simple, but the water acts as resistance, so it is actually much more challenging than we realize. The water reduces weight-bearing depending on the depth (the deeper the water you're standing in, the less weight your feet are bearing) so it is easier on the joints, plus the hydrostatic pressure of the water helps improve circulation.
Check out the Silver Sneakers website. It is a great site for exercise program for seniors.
I hope that helps. Good luck to your mom.
~ Lauren
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