Re: Exercise and Power Chairs

[Guest guest]

Adrienne,

My favorite exercise over the past 4 years is the old treadmill. From the very

beginning, I began walking with oxygen and monitoring my O2 levels at varying

speeds with my oximeter. Although I do walk around Coffeeville and sometimes

bicycle, the treadmill is still my choice. And as I have mentioned before,

walking burns more calories with less stress on heart and lungs than any other

exercise. The veins in your legs have tiny valves which, when healthy, allow

blood to flow upwards from the legs back to the heart and lungs for

reoxigenation. With vericose veins, these tiny valves don't close properly, and

blood is allowed to flow back into the leg and pool, thus putting excess stress

on the circulatory system. To stay heart-healthy, walking is the best exercise.

Don't go too much for weights other than a few repetitions. Those puchups,

situps and weights sap oxygen fast. Keep your muscles toned through stretching

and flexing for the most part.

And to possibly burn even more calories, it has been found that short bursts of

faster walking can help improve metabolism even at rest. I have included short

bursts of greater speed on the treadmill, but always check your O2 level when

doing so, so as to stay as much above 90% as you can. Keep records, and over

time, you will hopefully begin to see improvement in your stamina and

oxygen-supplementation needs. If your cardiovascular system isn't particularly

healthy, it will take time to improve circulation. To rebuild good capillary and

blood vessel function can take as much as a year, but once done, regular daily

walks can maintain a healthier body. Regular daily walks also help you burn more

calories while at rest, and if you take prednasone like I do, staying slim

doesn't come easy. Good luck. I think I remember Brude has a treadmill in plain

view next to his chair. Just part of my furniture too.

Check your oxygen often, make sure you are otherwise healthy enough for

exercise, and incorporate exercise into a daily routine according to what you

can reasonable accomplish. So I highly recommend a treadmill.

Jerry/Mississippi/54/IPF/dx April 05

>

>

>

> Subject: Exercise and Power Chairs

> To: Breathe-Support

> Date: Tuesday, September 1, 2009, 2:26 PM

>

>

>  

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I've never used a power chair but wouldn't hesitate if it helped me to get

around.  We can't let this disease limit what we want to do.  I do try to walk

whenever I can and I do what some of you have said and that is put my helios

plus (baby) or marathon (toddler) in the child seat of a cart and walk around

the store with that.  I did notice that when I went to Washington, DC I did a

lot of walking and had to carry my marathon and when I returned I saw that I'd

lost 4 lbs.  That was great.  I assume the walking and carrying the marathon

served as a form of weight lifting and exercise (LOL).  I wish I could contine

it at home.  I know exercise is important, but I can't get going with it like I

should.  Any suggestions? ???

> AB

>