It's all about balance
 

I'm doing physical therapy to rehab my knee get my balance back.
I have a list of PT exercises from my knee surgery that I do daily.
However due to a sedentary lifestyle (retirement) my core musculature has turned to goo.
(I had approached Marvel with the idea of "jellyfish man" but they aren't buying it)".��

So im.loo!ing online for exercise gadgets and thought "the lunatics at PPOT know about this 'exercise' thing ill ask them."

First up is a balance board... Coolest looking device on the list, can be had as a disk with puck in the center you balance on or a small surfboard with a tubular roller.

Next a balance ball, goofy looking device but been around forever.

Next the mini-trampoline I had one of these long time ago and actually not a bad workout.

I'm actually without a car so I am walking everywhere and that is helping.

Any suggestion/comment/criticism

My wife has been doing PT and I looked at that balance board and thought "dangerous." Don't do that thing alone and/or w/o some bars to hang on to. The disc one sounds a bit safer, but....

Balance ball; didn't see one there.

Trampoline; just no. See BB above.

Walking is only 2nd to swimming. Not everyone has access to a warm pool or likes water. I don't.
Walking slightly uphill is good so a treadmill would be good for you if you can get one at a good price. I don't see the need for all the gizmos and for walking only it doesn't even have to be powered. IDK if you can buy a non powered treadmill but you can get an exercise bike for free.

Don't forget upper body strength. For that you either swim or buy expensive exercise equipment. What you need are those wide colored rubber bands.

What about just trying some regular old sit ups then move to some planking, no gadgets required. [emoji846]

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My best fitness advice that I tell everyone- get a dog.

And walk it.

You will be way fitter and also get a best friend. I am on a “hiking” vacation currently and all I did to prep was walk my dog more. It works. It’s repeatable. Its pleasant.

The balance board is great. Stretches out muscle to the amount of flexibility that they should have.

Not trying to get you hurt or anything LOL but try it with your eyes closed. It works a few more muscles.

I've been there :(

Start with balancing on one foot, then one foot on a spongey mat, move to knee bends on one foot, then try it with your eyes closed.

You don't need to buy stuff...

I can send you the set of exercises I was given to build up core strength.

The therapist suggested doing some of them in a doorway in case I lost my balance.

I was doing fine until the lunges, which makes the area right above my knee feel like it is on fire.

How tall are you? The taller you are, the more difficult a balance board. A center of gravity thing...and why you don't see many tall surfers.

I second the dog recommendation. I take my girl for a three mile hike in the woods daily. I am one year past knee replacement and have finally stopped thinking about my knee all the time.

This. Since I tore my tendon (PCL) and meniscus. I have to lay off intense exercise. I was in pretty good shape when it happened but my psy. therapist said, for guys your aga " you need to work on your balance". I said, F U and your age, in my head.:) He suggest I just lift one foot then the other about ankle high for 15 sec to start and work up to 45 sec to a min. Make sure you have something like a table or wall to grab onto if you lose your balance. I couldn't do them on my right, the injured leg, for more then 5-10 sec. With a bit of work, I am up to a min now. Take daily walks. My 85 year old mom walks daily, 1/2 mile twice a day. She also does 5 sets of 4 steps up her porch a few times a week. She gets up and down in my 4 runner or diesel all by herself. She's 5'1" now. Of course, I have to watch her. Stay on it Scott, its just time now.

I have a balance board. It helps.

When I needed to strengthen my core years ago, an amazing physio had me sit on a yoga ball and lift one leg at a time and hold it for 10 seconds. Do this 10 times for each leg every day. Harder than you think. Made a massive difference.

This.

Great advice.

One of my dogs is an old dog, so on a number of walks particularly the up hill stuff, I have to carry him. Now that's exercise

Due to my SCI my balance is in constant need of work. My PT has me stand with my feet comfortably apart. I then lift a foot as high as I can with the ideal being my thigh parallel to the floor. Alternate and repeat.

I do fifteen of those everyday (while I make coffee) and fifteen toe lifts, those are for knee rehab but do double duty.

Love dogs but do to my financial situation I had to trade my luxurious beach house.for a loft and I'm old school i.e. IMHO a dog needs a yard. AND I haven't been on a vacation since 2020 AND my friend is a Navy Chaplin stationed in Hawaii that has invited me over to visit... So no pets until after vacation

RE: loft very limited storage so less is more and space is at a premium.

I did buy a bike - but it scares me a bit - let me explain - I have had bikes since I was a kid starting with the obligatory 20" Schwin I got for Christmas, as an adult I owned a handfull of motorcycles. My new bike is a 29er, the frame should be small on me but add the tall tires and the aggressive triangular frame, the cross bar is just a few inches from my naughy bits but it works.

All that to say during my "break down" I took several bad falls so I'm a little gun shy, and I checked into assisted living to recover where they're very safety/fall aware.
But I am no longer having vodka for breakfast so everything is coming back (physically and mentally).

How about those stands that.let you use your bike indoors? Are those any good?

Hey Scott....I've used a Nashbar trainer and very safe and easy to use.

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/1f/b1/53/1...thlon-gear.jpg

Not sure about the various gadgets - but there are a lot of You Tube videos with various approaches to assisting with one's balance.

Hang in there, my brother......just keep going.......

This ^^^

Unless you are some kind of special case you can do most of what you need just using your body weight.

Hey! I'm special!
My mother said so!
😋😋😋

I use a "wind trainer" during the winter. It's good but it makes noise.

My PT told me just to stand on one leg as well.
I didn't realize how bad it was until I went to use a friends foot pedal on his trolling motor and almost fell out of the boat.