Swimming w/ a broken leg?
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MaverickUNC posted 2 years ago.
Damn. I wouldn't starting hammering away at freestyle. I've been told the pool is a great recovery tool but you don't want to mess yourself up when you are already messed up. I'm no physical therapist but I would assume the low crawl, high crawl, walk, jog, run approach would probably best suite you. Maybe try some easy swimming like freestyle or breaststroke or maybe some aqua-jogging/water aerobics if your legs are feeling up to it. If I were you, though, I'd consult the physical therapist on staff and see what they recommend.
"I run because it always takes me where I want to go" -Dean Karnazes
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1292 days
geochuck posted 2 years ago.
As long as the bone is healed swim, don't over kick don't push off the wall too hard. When it feels right you can go at it. The doctor should be able to tell you if it OK to swim. My son inlaw had major breaks in his leg and was swimming in a few weeks. He has just had the plates and screws removed and is back in the pool after the scars healed. It takes very little effort to keep the legs up.
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1235 days
rob6118 posted 2 years ago.
Well over the last two days I've used a float to keep my upper body up (gotta keep my upper arm dry for now with an IV in) and treaded water. My left leg feels real clunky because of the amount of muscle damage/ knee damage I have but it felt really good. Felt like it was great for increasing the range of motion and reducing swelling. As soon as I get the IV out in 2 days I'm gonna try for light freestyle for upper body and aqua jogging to try to focus on strengthening the leg up.
Geochuck does your son do Tri's? How'd he recover in the other areas? I've been trying to do some research and you can even hear of football players playing on fractured tibias and a cyclist using a stationary trainer while having a fractured tibia. I just wonder how different a femur will be.
I understand alot of answers would be to simply listen to the doctor, and I have an outstanding surgeon who deserves all the credit for making me able to walk again, but by their nature they are conservative. He hasn't ok'd me for the pool yet, yet in a week he will determine if my knee is flexible enough or if I have to go in for another surgery, and he hasn't cleared me for the type of PT (swimming) which I think is really going to loosen it up.
I certainly want to avoid surgery, and therefore I am doing PT that he hasn't cleared me for in an effort to avoid it.....
It's an interesting line to balance. That competitive desire that we have, the stubborness, and then listening to the experts.
Rob
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1039 days
tri-ac posted 2 years ago.
a lot of docs are conservative, especially those who are not athletes themselves or who do not primarily service athletes. usually, they just care if you can walk again...after that you're on your own...if you already have an athleticly-sympathetic doc, that's great! if not, ask around for one...
if you haven't already, i'd ask some questions about whether surgery might get you back on your feet quicker than PT. I wasted a year each on PT and non-invasive procedures for tendonitis in an ankle and a herniated disk. in the end the surgery was the clear fix (i wish i knew that then...)
good luck in your recovery!
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Shortyy posted 2 years ago.
You may also want to keep in mind not over doing the cardio too fast, your body needs rest to heal and if you jump in too fast, it can take longer to heal.
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geochuck posted 2 years ago.
No he is getting ready to play ice hockey, he does not have any IVs', the scars are all healed but he uses the swimming to do his therapy, my daughter is the swimmer and also a water therapist. I would not go in the water with an IV in easy to get infection. He also uses his home gym. Did they send your to a physio therapist they should have a list of exercise to add flexability.
126
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1235 days
rob6118 posted 2 years ago.
They did give me a list of exercises but they are bed exercises and haven't been anywhere near as effective as the combined reduction in swelling and exercise caused by the pool.
It's not a true IV, its called a midline, more permanent/sealed form of an IV so its a lot harder to get the insertion point wet, so I'm not as worried.
Rob
I also liked the suggestion about surgery. I hate being in a hospital but understand your statement. As far as rushing into cardio, its been two months, and I'm the type of person where I got up and walked 2 weeks after the accident just to prove everyone wrong. I've been going to the mall lately just for the cardio workout associated with wheelchairs *grin*. In other words I'm feeling the workout addiction coming back and my body no longer has the fatigue / chronic weakness it did when my body was still all banged up and healing. I'm more concerned about pushing a weak bone to far to quick out of ignorance, but that is also counter weighted by the desire to get back into shape as soon as possible.
126
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rob6118 posted 2 years ago.
I'd figure I'd update the thread. Spoke w/ the surgeon yesterday and he cleared me for pool work but no weight work on the leg. He says I'll need a bone graft in 1.5 months for sure. So far this week I have swam everyday starting w/ 5 laps being my maximum the first day (25 yrd pool) to me swimming .7 miles today. I could have gone farther but I dislocated my shoulder for the third time in the accident and it started to feel sore so I was conservative and stopped early.
The pool has became my best friend. It is my only outlet for my competitive and physical energies, and I'm amazed at my girlfriend (who is much more of a swimmer then my runner's background can match) speed and ease. I haven't be hammering for speed, rather doing lazy easy laps with a strong emphasis on technique, physical therapy on my leg, and overall cardio fitness.
There has been a number of contributing factors for my recovery but I would definitely include triathlons as one of the major reasons I have come as far as I have as soon as I have. The support from my fellow athletes has been amazing as well. So thanks...I'm off to log today's workout on the training log.
Rob
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1292 days
geochuck posted 2 years ago.
Sounds like you are on track to better things. A friend of mine has had electrical bone growth simulation treatments which seemed make the bones heal better and faster.
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rob6118 posted 1 year ago.
well as an update I didn't wind up needing a bone graft. I saw some x-rays prior to my last surgery almost 1.5 months ago and you could hardly tell I broke my leg (minus all the bolts and extra hardware). So the good news is apparently that healthy lifestyle (including all those fattening cheeseburgers) meant that I healed exceptionally fast. The surgeon was basically pretty stunned.
I'm walking now and on a light weight lifting workout regime trying to regain my strength and flexibility back. I can't bike yet because my left knee bends to only about 80 degrees or so, but my squats are helping to stretch the scar tissue and tendons back out. My swimming isn't the best, especially with the 4 month break I had to take but I'm taking it day by day.
Mainly I'm just happy to be working, walking, and making it day to day. I just hope that some day I will get to run 10 miles again, or go do a half century bike ride. No matter what though I'm determined to be some type of competitive athlete again, even if I have to cheat and enter the wheel chair sports haha.
Just figured I'd update everyone. I'm actually headed back to the gym for another swim session right now, and was reading the swim forum for some more tips.
Rob
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1549 days
Riverbrady posted 1 year ago.
Congrats :)
Recovery can seem slow at times, and aggravating, but just keep chipping at it. :) Sounds like things are going really well over all.
"Care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, expect more than others think is possible."
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
Hang in there and keep up the healing and good exercise. I've been swimming with a foot injury for over a month, mostly using the pull buoy but transitioning gradually to more kicking. I think it's a great way to keep cardio fit and gradually build up flexibility and muscle. It's hard to have to take it easy, and most docs just don't understand. I've actually had one say "Now you don't have to worry about training, you can just relax." Ha! They don't get that we *like* to train.
So, best of luck to you in your continued recovery.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
So a month ago I wrote about my horrible accident on my motorcycle where I almost died, and in the process almost lost both my legs. Well its been almost two months from the accident and in a week I anticipate being cleared by my surgeon to get back into the pool. I think I may also be cleared for limited weight work not involving my left leg (shattered femur w/ metal plates and screws) so I should be able to lift and strengthen the rest of my body.
Question is does anyone have experience working back from an injury like this? My right leg quad was extremely damaged, but I've recovered to the point where I'm using crutches with my right leg supporting. My left leg has started to recover as well but can't bear any weight and I'm still trying to get my knee to flex normally.
The pool is the first thing I can do so I put the question here. Should I use floats to keep my leg suspended? Should I really hammer the freestyle trying to get my cardio and technique back or should I look at the pool time as more of a fun way of rehabing (ie not a serious workout opportunity).
My love for the sport has been a tremendous help in my recovery. I was deeply disappointed when I realized I couldn't complete the Half Ironman I was shooting for at the end of this year. I'm very eager to start the journey back to my prior strength and endurance and am looking for any advice anyone may have.
Thanks in advance.
Rob