Gym/Fitness Options

[meanmachine13]

I am really looking to get back into shape after an injury caused me to gain weight and lose muscle over the past few years. I have a condition that causes severe inflammation of my joints (Hips, SI mainly) as well as pain through my spine. Eventually this condition will cause my joints/bones to fuse.

This condition causes pain when sitting/standing/walking. So I am finding it difficult to find a way to be active and stay in shape. I play hockey but cant even make it through an entire game due to pain.

Does anyone have an suggestions on activities that I could do that would be easier on my joints?! I have though about aquasize type things because I heard those were easy on joints, but I am not really a water person. Plus I just get the mental image of old ladies in a pool.

Do you think a personal trainer would have any benefit? I am not sure if they are specialized enough to know how to create a workout that would work around joint inflammation. I have never had any experience with one so I am not sure their expertise.

[iggypop]

Why not swim lengths, instead of an aquasize class?

Maybe rock climbing as an alternative?

[meanmachine13]

Ive never really swam my entire life. I dont even know how to swim!

As for rock climbing. What do you use the most? It seems like it would put a lot of stress on my hips/back? Or is it more in the arms and legs?

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Anything in the water would probalby be pretty good for you.
It doesn't have to be aquasize, just swimming laps can be a good workout.
If you don't know how to swim there are lots of programs you can do to learn, and it's never going to be a bad thing to know how to swim.

As for a personal trainer, it depends. If you go to a big gym and get their trainers, chaces are they aren't really qualified to personalize something to the extent you need.
I've got a couple buddies who are very qualifed and run their own studio where it's 1 on 1 training. I'd be happy to send you their info, and they could definitely tailor a program for you that would work with any problems you have. The downside of course is that they aren't cheap, but depending on your budget they could work for you.
The point though is that you'll get what you paid for, if you go to a cheap trainer, expect a canned program that probably won't be as useful to you as something written specifically for you would be.

[getbak]

You might want to take an adult learn-to-swim class. I was pretty afraid of the water and refused to take the classes when they were offered in school, but when I was 14, my mother enrolled me in an adult class over the summer, and it helped a lot. I still have issues with deep water, but I can at least do laps.


A few years ago, I worked with a personal trainer at the Talisman Centre, and it helped me get into better shape. When you sign up, they have you fill out a questionnaire about your goals and any limitations you have, then they assign a trainer, who will build a custom plan for you.


This is from their FAQs about Personal Training (http://talismancentre.com/index.php?...=49&Itemid=168):

What qualifications do the Trainers have?

The minimum standard Talisman Centre requires from our Trainers is a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Sport Science or a related field. Within our training team each Trainer has different specializations which enables us to match clients with the Trainer whose knowledge will best meet their needs. Some of our Trainers' specializations include: athlete development, special needs, injury rehabilitation, cardiac issues, multiple sclerosis, muscle imbalances and pre/post natal training.

[Buff]

Go see a Physiotherapist. They can design workouts for you. You sound like their specialty. You have an injury that you want to improve so you can have a healthy and athletic lifestyle. Depending on your condition, they can get you to the point of playing a full game of hockey or being able to go to the gym to keep improving your physical health.

My wife is a Physio. There is no way I would be able to play hockey if it weren't for her. She helped me to improve my knees so that I can work out hard and feel minimal, if any, pain during or afterwards.

The swimming thing would be great for you. No impact on your joints. Besides, haven't you always wanted to be a Cougar Hunter?

[-TC-]

Swimming is a good start

Perhaps look into yoga. I started 3 years ago and its worked wonders on my flexibility and balance. There are numerous types spending on what you want to get out of it. I do variations of Vinyasa yoga...

Btw, I've been a gym rat for 30 years, and played a ton of sports over the years...just as a point of reference, and I have terrible knees and multiple back injuries.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by meanmachine13

Ive never really swam my entire life. I dont even know how to swim!

As for rock climbing. What do you use the most? It seems like it would put a lot of stress on my hips/back? Or is it more in the arms and legs?

Listen to everyone else . . . . swimming is definitely right in line with what you need.

It's tremendous aerobically, builds a lot of muscles and is low impact.

I agree about adult learn to swim.

Sorry to hear about your condition.

Cowperson

[enthused]

My sister had a hip injury a few years ago, and she started doing deep water running as part of her rehab. It's a little less silly than aquasize and you don't need to be a good swimmer because you've got the floatation belt on. My sister actually really enjoyed it, despite being the youngest person in the class by a good 30 years or so.

[Kybosh]

Rock climbing is my primary sport. If you wanted to try it, remember to take it very easy to start. It is extremely easy to injure yourself when climbing, especially for someone who has likely not used those muscles much in the past few years. When you're starting out, it is particularly brutal on your fingers, forearms, shoulders and back. People tend to compensate more with their upper body than work on balance. If you do want to try it, try to focus on big easy holds and just move up the wall quietly (Don't bang your feet and slam into the wall or anything - if you're doing that, it's too hard). I honestly don't know how hard you would find the sport though with your condition.

[First Lady]

I too am a non-swimmer (2 near drowning experiences will do that ) but nearly all the pools have lane swimming morning and/or night.

Usually 3 lanes: slow - moderate - and darn fast. In the slow lane you can walk/jog.

I've thought about adult swim lessons, but haven't seen on that is exclusive to adults. They usually say 14 yrs +.

The guy that normally teaches adult lessons at my pool is amazing. The age
Range is usually 19 years + and ability levels vary from people afraid to put their face in, to people looking to get stroke development. I co-taught one of his classes where a guy had lmited movement on his left side due to a disability and we worked with him to adapt his stroke to the point where he was
Comfortable swimming a whole length!
I've done the deep water workouts and find for myself they're good to build your core muscles, but I can't seem to get my heartrate up to a decent level. Maybe it works for an overweight 50 year old woman.
Good luck on what you choose to do!

[meanmachine13]

Thanks for your input everyone. I am thinking I will have to look more at water workouts and maybe move onto rock climbing or a personal trainer later on.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Buff

Go see a Physiotherapist. They can design workouts for you. You sound like their specialty. You have an injury that you want to improve so you can have a healthy and athletic lifestyle. Depending on your condition, they can get you to the point of playing a full game of hockey or being able to go to the gym to keep improving your physical health.

This. It's critical that you start preventative rehab as early as possible for Ankylosing Spondylitis.

[Azure]

I absolutely agree with seeing the physiotherapist. A must must with your condition.

Chances are he will recommend swimming as well. It sounds like the perfect exercise for your condition.

[meanmachine13]

I have been going to physio on and off for 4 years now, since the onset of my symptoms.

They have tried numerous forms of treatment and nothing seems to work. Everything from stretching, acupuncture, traction/spinal decompression, manual alignment, etc. My last time of physio lasted for 8 months and I didnt really improve from day one to the last day I went.

I tried different physiotherapists, different physio clinics, and everyone is stumped on how to help. Its such a strange condition to work around, that in a physio clinic there isnt much they can seem to do.

[zamler]

+1 on swimming. I don't have anything wrong with me that I need to seek specific treatment for besides a bad back, but swimming for me has been such a great help. It does help my back, and helps me in general be fit and feel great. The best part is you get an amazing workout with zero impact.

Honestly if you can't swim then take some classes and embrace it, best form of exercise there is in my humble experience. A nice side effect is you lose weight even in areas that are nearly impossible to get rid of the bulge.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by iggypop

Why not swim lengths, instead of an aquasize class?

Maybe rock climbing as an alternative?

I'm also a climber (same as Kybosh). I wouldn't suggest it for your condition, but if you do, top roping, but you'll get bored of it and want more later. Bouldering puts you in some weird falls sometimes and stresses your body weird (compared to other sports I play). Trad climbing would be rough of your knee's/ankles and some of the positions you put yourself is not great for your condition.

I would honestly go with swimming

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by meanmachine13

Ive never really swam my entire life. I dont even know how to swim!

As for rock climbing. What do you use the most? It seems like it would put a lot of stress on my hips/back? Or is it more in the arms and legs?

Forarms and core strength mostly, some fingers (but I think overstated) but back/core are used alot.

Mountaineering/trad climbing - calves... major calf burners. And my harness can be up to 30 lbs of gear, I sometimes come home with bruised hips.