KW1234
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2016
- Messages
- 269
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 10/2016
- Country
- US
- State
- OR
- City
- Hillsboro
What are PALS doing for exercise?
When I first developed symptoms in the June and July time frame I had been doing a fair amount of weight training and cycling at the gym- 3 times a week and 2 hours each session and hikes or outdoor cycling on weekends. My balance was getting worse, though I thought I had developed a limp from a knee injury I was working with a PT and ortho team to rehabilitate.
In August I took a bad fall getting off my bike, cracked a rib and bruised my shoulder and knee- this started the journey to discovering I had ALS. Since cracking a rib, I pulled back from the weights and moved over to swimming. I had been swimming 3x a week a mile each time. When I was diagnosed last week, my neuro suggested I cut back on the swimming and only swim with a buddy who can watch me as my breathing is starting to be impacted.
Swimming is one of the few things where I don't have to worry about balance, and it's an area where I feel like I'm getting a decent cardio workout. My legs are too weak for the treadmill, and I can't keep my left leg on the pedals on the recumbant bikes- it just falls off- though I might see if a trainer can strap in on for me. The upright bikes are possible, but I need help climbing on and off as my balance is so bad. My PT has me doing some core and light squat work with TRX straps.
I have a pulmonary evaluation in a couple weeks and a swallowing evaluation, but am hoping to keep moving something somehow as long as I can... suggestions?
When I first developed symptoms in the June and July time frame I had been doing a fair amount of weight training and cycling at the gym- 3 times a week and 2 hours each session and hikes or outdoor cycling on weekends. My balance was getting worse, though I thought I had developed a limp from a knee injury I was working with a PT and ortho team to rehabilitate.
In August I took a bad fall getting off my bike, cracked a rib and bruised my shoulder and knee- this started the journey to discovering I had ALS. Since cracking a rib, I pulled back from the weights and moved over to swimming. I had been swimming 3x a week a mile each time. When I was diagnosed last week, my neuro suggested I cut back on the swimming and only swim with a buddy who can watch me as my breathing is starting to be impacted.
Swimming is one of the few things where I don't have to worry about balance, and it's an area where I feel like I'm getting a decent cardio workout. My legs are too weak for the treadmill, and I can't keep my left leg on the pedals on the recumbant bikes- it just falls off- though I might see if a trainer can strap in on for me. The upright bikes are possible, but I need help climbing on and off as my balance is so bad. My PT has me doing some core and light squat work with TRX straps.
I have a pulmonary evaluation in a couple weeks and a swallowing evaluation, but am hoping to keep moving something somehow as long as I can... suggestions?
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