Having been through the system after a heart attack and bypass surgery, I found the rehabilitation exercises to be a "One fits all" experience. However as has been said on here many times before, we are all different and of all ages and abilities and therefore to ask an older person with perhaps arthritis or replacement joints, to do some of the more strenuous exercises to be a tad over burdening. So my question a few months ago was "What is appropriate exercise" I also asked the question during one of these gym sessions and it was explained to me that anything that raises the heart rate is good, but an emphatic NO to gardening as exercise, thick I again thought was rather harsh.
On BBC 1 at 2310 last night was a programme relating to obesity, called "The truth about obesity" where one facet of the programme was about healthy exercise and other options. One of the examples was how many calories and other levels one would burn or enhance over a "Gym Period" against a brisk walk or gardening. To my surprise the examples shown marked health benefits from taking the walking and gardening exercise over the gym regime, which was good news for me since I loathe the gym and have always been very active.
The outcome of the examples did show that someone with a higher rate of mobility and general activity was just as, even healthier that the person that relied on the gym for fitness, which brings me back again to my original question where I suggested almost exactly the same thing, given the range of ages and abilities we all have, especially since almost all of us will have been set goals for our fitness during our treatment and find it very reassuring that the experts and their exhaustive tests indicated we were just a healthy with a brisk walk or some meaningful gardening, or washing the car or using the stairs where possible. So this may be good news for the folk that do not like the gym regime or the cost!
"Physical activity is movement that is carried out by the skeletal muscles that requires energy. In other words, any movement one does is actually physical activity. Exercise, however, is planned, structured, repetitive and intentional movement intended to improve or maintain physical fitness."
I hate the gym too but I know exercise helps me in a way that day to day activities do not. But luckily we;re all different!!
I have been well served by my rehab class twice a week over the last year or so. The instructor will emigrate at the end of the month and there is no one to take over. She runs 4 classes a week and as she is so good all the classes have waiting lists. I suspect cardiac rehab in the area will cease at the end of next month and there appears to be nothing that can be done about getting a properly qualified instructor to replace her. I suspect all the delays are due to lack of staff....
Local universities seem to churn out a lot of sports scientists and physios. However, they all seem to want to either work for a football club or pose in gyms! Helping people who have back problems, joint replacement, post cardio event, etc. does not seem to figure very much!
I taught a lot of very sporty young men who went on to do the sort of courses in Sports science you mention. The ones who wanted to help people went the route of physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath. Somehow the sports departments need to be made to understand they could offer courses giving even better "employability" skills. One day the fad for personal trainers will wane....
I suspect the working span of a personal trainer is limited. The "ladies who lunch" at our local gym seem to prefer younger trainers!
If you need some decent assistance, you got to pay for it,
I'm afraid. Sounds harsh?
You cannot expect INDIVIDUAL APPROACH from the NHS.
Okinawans got it right.
Use your wisdom. NHS isn't known for wisdom, is it?
It's so GREAT for something, but not for others.
Praise what's good and move on to get what you need elsewhere.
My opinion.
Cardiology has a lot to go,
but I don't feel they should do more for
self-tailored rehabs. They haven't got
the money. Accept the basic humbly
and use your cash for something more
special, that the NHS is not meant for.
At least, everyone gets some rehab as a
part of the post-operative
care. It's a cattle class but they are
still doing it. That is still something....
Gratitude and appreciation would make you feel
better, also.
• in reply to
Just for a moment there I thought you were referring to the private sector! However I do agree in the principle you are making - BUT advice is advice which, if given by an expert, should mean something. My point simply referred to the word "appropriate" exercise and the one fits all, when it is a fact everyone is different, age, health, ability, Therefore advice should be general and tailored upon request is my observation.
Further more that gardening is not appropriate exercise - emphasised more than once during the rehab classes - and the clear statement within the BBC documentary that any sustained exercise, gardening included, can be classed as appropriate.
So from a point of accuracy, I do think some advisors should be advised to say nothing since this is conflicting information that does fly in the face of common sense - don't you think?
I just wish that everyone who has PAD was given the Supervised Exercise Programmes as recommended by NICE so that we can try to stay as healthy as we can and avoid a stroke or major cardiac event.
That’s not to say the rehab for cardiac patients doesn’t always work well on an individual basis.
• in reply to
Well, no. You either take it or leave it with the NHS.
You didn't get on with this one (clearly).
You could ask for someone else, instead.
Sometimes, it's worth "listening" for what they can give you.
Whilst I "get" what you mean, gardening isn't
strictly cardio. It may use muscles well & burn calories.
But it may not
be effective in shifting the embedded "visceral fat".
I wouldn't bother with BBC health advice.
It's hardly a dependable source.
It's geared for the "general public".
They are bound to print stuff that people "want to hear".
They are known for artery clogging recipes
to appeal their wider audience.
If NHS recommended something, just do it.
It's FREE!
• in reply to
An interesting reply however the Appropriate exercise was specifically aimed at the ones here that either cannot afford or for some other reason do not get anything after the cardiac rehab. The BBC was quoted as a "reliable" source that was geared at obesity which specifically included visceral fat in the delivery of the programme. It should be mentioned that I have no love for the BBC or anything to do with their political advice at the moment and find them OTT with their views and ways of misleading statements. However even with that said, Mother is a long mile better than "Google" which appears to be this places medical advisor, especially over the pond.
I actually abhor double standards and overheard how an older lady was not followed up for classes she needed so much purely because she could not meet the times of the exercise classes because she had no one to get her to them. That also caused a problem for me, but as you say, you have to take the good with the bad but age related exclusions or inclusions do make me angry.
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