sport n Glaucoma need help

[Eralal]

53 yo male , 2018 diagnosed glaucoma .

may you share your experince and your suggestions please ?

1 - can i swim ?

2- do push ups n sit ups?

3- weight lifting

4- play tennis ?

5-pilates ?

i need to hear your exercises routine also.

thank you for your shaings .

[Ritualhazard]

I don’t know about the others but I do Pilates and it’s pretty gentle so it’s fine. I’m just wary of anything that puts my head below my heart. I used to do yoga but there are a lot of inversions like downward dog so I switched to Pilates

[Cornwalleyes]

I swim, before my trabulectomy I did it without goggles, now I have to wear a reef mask and try to keep that eye dry. I also do weights at the gym, run, do push ups and sit ups, etc. I’m not aware of any reason why they are not ok . The general advice is nothing that puts your eyes below your heart for a prolonged period as this can increase the pressure. now I’ve had the trab I find I have to do burpees/ mountain climbers using a small step or bench for my hands as that raises my head slightly. I go to the gym three times a week, swim four times a week and gig row two or three times a week and do Pilates once a week. If you have any concerns speak to your consultant, mine knows I like to keep busy!

[Biosphere in reply to Cornwalleyes]

I got an eye infection as soon as I swam…even with goggles. What is a reef mask and where can I get one? I really miss swimming

[Cornwalleyes in reply to Biosphere]

I got mine from a website called prescription swimming goggles, they are called Aquasphere - bigger than normal goggles, so not as much pressure on you’re eye, but not as big as a diving mask. I only do breast stroke and a bit of wave jumping in the winter so not sure how they would cope with full on front crawl. I couldn’t cope without going in the sea at all.

[Biosphere in reply to Cornwalleyes]

Thanks everso…that is really useful…I only do breast or backstroke. I was on holiday in real heat recently and I didnt dare go in the sea

[Bellamolly60 in reply to Cornwalleyes]

excellent I agree keep yourself busy and excerise good advice

[Double-dot]

I play squash and racketball, at a furious pace! I do wear eye protection now though.

[NewSh0e]

I have normal tension glaucoma; my consultant said anything that helps your circulation is to be encouraged and that even push-ups, burpees etc are fine.

Key is to avoid inversions as others have said and also the Valsalva manoeuvre in weightlifting (which involves holding your breath). He said hand weights are fine and I make sure to breathe when I’m lifting them.

Since my glaucoma worsened I erred on the side of caution till I spoke to the consultant but now I’m pretty much back to normal, if working a little under my limits.

[Eralal]

thanks for all great sharings.

i love learning

- do sport head not down your heart

-swim with bigger googles

- when lift , breath out well

-keep ypurself busy qitg sport for good mind body always

Happy Christmas

Lovely New Year

[HMThai in reply to Eralal]

Walking is healthy, cycling,...we live at the seaside here in Thailand and I cannot function😂 without my sea as I love the sea and it is a very big part of my life... today we have 34°C and warm sea.....I have read somewhere that going under water is not recommended even with goggles.....I always keep my head above water and don't wear goggles!..As said here.... maximum oxygen which reaches the optic nerve the better!...it is called Oxygenation!....I think!... Don't forget to to punctual occlusion after putting your eye drops (I assume you are using them?)... look it up on Dr Google..... Enjoy your holidays....I miss my good ol'London around Christmas time!..

[mrswaffle]

I walk a lot, because that’s what I enjoy most. I also do a yoga routine, but don’t do any poses where my head is lower than my heart. I have a wonderful weight workout, which combines movements for upper and lower body, just use lights weights and keep the reps up. I have an ab roller, so every morning, I do 40 ab crunches. (I have arthritis in my neck so I prefer not to do sit-ups.) Good luck!

[Astilbe]

I can feel the pressure rise in my eyes when I bend with my head down for more than a brief time. I first noticed it when doing gardening. The thing is that you can find ways around it to avoid that position.