Quad muscles

[Agatesup]

Am 77 years old and have been on Imbruvica for 25 months. At present, quadriceps are weak - I have difficulty getting off chairs and couches. I do walk 5+ miles each day with no pain. Perhaps the quads are just from being an elderly male. Any comments will be appreciated. Thanks!

[HailMary-USA]

Kudos and respect on your daily walking regimen!

Perhaps consider working with a Physical Therapist for an exercise program to strengthen leg muscles, after clearing the idea with your CLL doc.

Members here with Imbruvica knowledge will let you know if this is a common experience.

Best wishes to you,

Mary

[Yuck]

Here is a link to a video for seniors, people over 50. If you don’t walk up and down hills the quads are not getting enough use.

youtu.be/mjrnsOOEevk(Not working as expected?)

The video shows 3 individuals doing the exercises. The leader’s mom does a milder version.

~ Yuck

[starsafta]

I agree that walking on level ground will not sufficiently strengthen quads. I also feel that maintaining quad strength is the answer to maintaining balance and preventing falls.

In addition to physical therapy, you might look for a tai chi class, a much more fun and meditational way to strengthen quads. Because so many of the stances involve bending the knees, it helps to strengthen quads.

My knees don't allow deep knee bends. However, I do yoga and tai chi every morning. My daily walk includes a hill. And all the bending during gardening offers great opportunities for strengthening quads. If I'm standing in line at a store, I am in constant motion, swaying side-to-side as I bend the knees and crouch slightly. I sometimes do crouching exercises while watching TV. This regimen has helped me have rock solid quads at 80.

Going up and down stadium stairs is a great way to strengthen quads. Before going to Macchu Picchu, I climbed up and down stadium stairs five days a week for 3 months. Though I was the oldest person in the group (60 at the time), I was the only one not complaining about sore quads as we hiked down mountains.

If you have stairs where you live, you could walk up and down many times a day as part of your walking program. Maybe not as nice as being outdoors, but serves the purpose.

Also, what about arm strength? When my mother and her friends were in their 70s, I noticed they could hardly pick up a can of soup. I decided then and there that wouldn't happen to me. Thus, my regimen includes lifting weights every morning. Unlike my grandsons, I'm not concerned about lifting 100 pounds. I lift a 12 pound pack up and over my head 50 times a day, and I have a series of arm lifts with a 6 pound weight that I do every morning before getting out of bed. I find that lying down and lifting up is better for my neck. All this keeps my upper arms in pretty good shape.

There are a lot of things you can do to strengthen your quads. All you have to do is get up off your chair.

By the way, I've been on Imbruvica for 3.25 years. Muscle cramps until I started taking Magnesium; no muscle loss.

[ladyprescott]

Hi and Good Morning...good to hear you're walking five miles a day. Have you thought about going to the gym to try to build up your legs even more? I was a gym junkie for a long time and now go once in a while. I was in very good shape about a year ago. If you walk to treadmill you get more benefit for your heart and lungs. A suggestion only, but it might work for you. My best. Carole