Amputee Help

K

kiehugh

0
Afternoon all,

I am hoping that I am in the right place to find support.

I am looking to up my fitness regime, I am a double amputee one leg below the knee and one arm from the elbow.

For cardio this does not cause me a problem, I can run, cycle use x-trainer etc the only thing I cannot do is row.

The difficulty that I have is with weights or strength exercises. On my lower body I do not have any difficulties, however only having the use of one arm means that upper body and core is difficult. I can do sit ups and the chest fly machine with my prosthetic arm.

If anyone has any suggestions or know where I can look then the help would be greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions please ask.

Regards
 
That's a pretty tough situation. Without working with you one-on-one, it's pretty hard to give quality advice. Such is the nature of unique circumstances, unfortunately.

If you can do chest flys, then I'd look at finding a way to do rear delt flys and lateral raises, too. At one gym I went to, there were machines that allowed you to do all those exercises without any use of the hands or forearms, so you might be lucky enough to have such a set-up where you work out. Failing that, depending on your prosthesis, you might be able to make use of lifting straps...or they might just pull your prosthetic arm out of place/off your arms entirely. I used to know a guy who couldn't use his hands properly due to RSI, and so to train his upper body he'd hang weights from straps and press them like that, he'd get a partner to hold a weight plate against his elbows and he'd row against that one arm at a time, and I think he used slings around his elbows and hanging from the bar to do pullups -- he'd take his weight with his elbows instead of his hands to lift himself up.
 
There are a number of ways you can work core without crunches etc. I would generally recommend compound work with some free weights to give instability and make you engage the core, if possible.
I am not there wirh you but have trained one person without arms to do squats so it can be done.
An old friend of mine was still training and cycling after losing 2/3 of his leg but his artificial limb was geared and he could jog with it but hated doing so.
Sorry to be asking for more detail, but these will help.
How well set up are your prosthetics for holding load and movement?
How used to training are you and what types?
Do you have assistance, training partner etc.?
What equipment is available? Especially safety like weights rack if considering any free weights.

I have been lucky enough not to lose limbs, but have come close a few times, and those I have have been battered out of use a few times, especially my legs. It has taught me you can overcome if you are beligerent enough to do so, but help is often needed to avoid making stupid mistakes, I had some but still made stupid mistakes. Hopefully I can help you avoid a few of them.
 
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