LEG STRENGTH

[kuchee]

I am loosing my leg muscles weaken in progression and it is badly causing imbalance while walking or standing.

Jumping strength from muscles is totally gone. It is impossible for me to just cross little foot hurdles and causing me falling due to poor body control.

Any suggestion/ medicine for mainly leg muscle strengthening?

[ww-wibblywobbly]

Hi kuchee,

I recently posted under "exercises to share" some leg strengthening exercises.

If you're able then give them a try. I have personally found that exercising makes a huge difference. I think of everything as an exercise, and push myself but I must balance that with rest. But I have found that the difference takes years rather than the weeks that it took before I had Ataxia.

persevere, persereve, persereve!!

Keep strong, keep moving.

As many of us say on here - use it or loose it.

Good luck

Love Alison xx

[kuchee in reply to ww-wibblywobbly]

Bundle thanks, i will positively give them a try.

[AtaxiaBookFairy]

A recumbent exercise bike!

I also had asthma as a child (but I've not had an actual attack since I was 14). But every day of my life I either ran, swam or cycled. Not to get super fit - but just to keep my lungs healthy (they don't fully develop when you have asthma as a kid).

But now that I can't do any of these things, my chest was getting significantly worse.

Well, it was. Until I bought the recumbent exercise bike last year (on the recommendation of another ataxia patient - who was diagnosed 10 years before me - he swore by it).

Because it's recumbent, there are absolutely no balance issues (basically you are sitting on a seat, with long handles by your side - and if you do fall off, the seat is about 30-40 cm off the ground - so mine is beside my bed, just in case - gently falling onto a mattress is virtually no danger at all).

So I can "cycle" every day. Great for leg muscles (and abdomen).

Every muscle helps.

[kuchee in reply to AtaxiaBookFairy]

Thanks ABF, good idea. I also read about the cycling would recommend by researcher. An study shown this helps in Ataxia. Thanks for reminding all. I will see if possible to have one.

Greetings

[Hidden]

Hi Kuchee

As we get older our thighs are almost the first muscle to go. The only answer is exercise and more exercise. You have got some good tips below and need to take full responsibility for your strength. It won’t stop the wobbliness unfortunately but it will help to prevent falling and the release of endorphins caused by exercise will make you feel good.

As Alison says it’s harder now than before ataxia took hold, but improvements are possible.

Nigel

[kuchee in reply to Hidden]

Hi Nig, yes i have to take special care for my leg strength as i don't want to depend on anyone. I have 3 young kids to brought up and have support them till completing university. Wobbliness much in control now after using new meds by my neurologist. Hope i am able to improve my leg strength by doing cycling. Many thanks for your input.

[Hidden]

Thanks guys for mentioning recumbent bike, I have been taking my son to a park where there is an outdoor gym and they have an upright AND recumbent bikes, I will make sure he uses it!

[kuchee in reply to Hidden]

Stay blessed

[Shahidzak]

I have the some problem mine started a few weeks ago