Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Quick question for the fitness buffs out there. If someone's muscles have wasted away and they struggle to stand/walk etc, their calories are 300 a day or around 2000 per week (liquids only) is swimming going to build them muscles back up or are they going to burn more calories than their intake and make the situation worse. Getting conflicting advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nic1171 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 No idea on answer but curious why only 300 calorie intake for day??????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 No idea on answer but curious why only 300 calorie intake for day??????? Its personal and I don't really want to go in to it, thanks for your reply and believe me I wish it was way more calories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest26012 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Quick question for the fitness buffs out there. If someone's muscles have wasted away and they struggle to stand/walk etc, their calories are 300 a day or around 2000 per week (liquids only) is swimming going to build them muscles back up or are they going to burn more calories than their intake and make the situation worse. Getting conflicting advice. Not an expert Kate but I would have thought you would need the energy first and foremost? Swimming is good to build and strengthen but you need energy to do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Not an expert Kate but I would have thought you would need the energy first and foremost? Swimming is good to build and strengthen but you need energy to do it. It seems its a catch twenty two. My priority is getting these legs working and although in a lot of pain I do feel they are getting stronger, until they collapsed walking around Masters yesterday lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest26012 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 It seems its a catch twenty two. My priority is getting these legs working and although in a lot of pain I do feel they are getting stronger, until they collapsed walking around Masters yesterday lol If you like the water, I would go for some gentle aerobic classes in the water. It's more effortless and will build your muscle without too much strain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I would think swimming would be hard because you do need quite a bit of strength and energy, i find it hard because i dont have much strength in my arms and legs. Hopefully someone will be able to give you a proper answer though, would be great if you were on your way to recovery x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KazzE Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Hi Kate, that does sound like a bit of a challenge, have you spoken to physios? I wonder if one of those vibrio machines would help? You only do 10 mins per day. I have weakness in my left leg due to a back injury, I find it difficult to do my excercises some days but I can use the vibrio machine even when my back is sore. good luck, hope you find a solution x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JK2510 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Can you get a physio to work out an exercise plan of various exercises...some to do on the bed,chair,around the house etc.... I do agree with mad cow...an exercise class would be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight7 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Gentle exercise in a warm pool perhaps? You would be better under the care of a physio though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I'm no expert at all but don't you need weight bearing exercises to build muscle? Gentle weights? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eng32 Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Walking through water or use a noodle to hold yourself up and tread water, leg raises under water, that will help with building your muscles gently. I worked as a fitness instructor that looked after people referred to me by there GP to exercise with various medical conditions. Keep sessions short to start with 15 mins and build up time and increase effort to full swimming gradually when/ if you feel you can manage. Also so sit down/stand up are great for building up leg muscles. Stand up in Front of a chair like you were going to sit down. Slowly sit down and stand back up...now this might seem easy but it's harder than you think. Try to do 10, you can use another chair back to help balance or to help you at first, gradually increase if you can and work towards standing back up just before bum hitting the chair. Don't forget to lightly stretch after you sessions. Swiss balls are great for rehabilitation also. Maybe you could ask a local trainer with a background in rehab to recommend a few for you. X hope this helps a little. :hug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lebourvellec Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 You would be better to do some sort of resistance training (weights) as will use less energy than swimming or aerobic work. Muscles can be built up again- there have been studies shown this in the elderly that they can build up muscle which has been lost. Been a few years since my sports science degree, but I do remember reading this research paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 It depends on the reason for atrophy in the first place... my specialism is neurodegenerative illness, and to exercise or not to exercise is a hot topic in these areas - sometimes it can be highly detrimental, and has the capacity to cause greater levels of incapacity, therefore decreasing the level of independence a person has. Whether swimming will benefit you or not will really depend on what the condition is... it may indeed be that no amount of weight training, swimming etc will make any difference to you, and that, in fact, you are burning precious calories that are needed to sustenance elsewhere in your body. So difficult to say anything that may be of help on here really.... but I am guessing you are seeing and getting advice from specialists? rather than physios etc, who will more often than not advocate exercise programs whether or not they are helpful or not - its all condition dependent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KazzE Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Just remembered one of the exercises I do on my Swiss/exercise ball. sit up straight with feet flat on floor and lift heels, then lower, repeat 10 times. For me this has lead to me being able to now sit on the ball and lift each foot off the ground, hold for a sec or two then lower. also gentle squats pushing the ball back against a wall. is a session with a physio a possibility? As suggested one with experience working with people with issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Thanks all. I will give some of those suggestions a go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellers and Whitehead Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 It depends on the reason for atrophy in the first place... my specialism is neurodegenerative illness, and to exercise or not to exercise is a hot topic in these areas - sometimes it can be highly detrimental, and has the capacity to cause greater levels of incapacity, therefore decreasing the level of independence a person has. Whether swimming will benefit you or not will really depend on what the condition is... it may indeed be that no amount of weight training, swimming etc will make any difference to you, and that, in fact, you are burning precious calories that are needed to sustenance elsewhere in your body. So difficult to say anything that may be of help on here really.... but I am guessing you are seeing and getting advice from specialists? rather than physios etc, who will more often than not advocate exercise programs whether or not they are helpful or not - its all condition dependent. How interesting that this is your specialism..I have lypodystrophy...got it at 14 same time as bloody epilepsy. Anycase Kate, hope you get the help you need :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Swimming would be great, low impact and nice and easy if you take it slow. I would seek a referral to a physiotherapist for some rehab and stop any steroids ( dexamethasone/prednisalone) as they increase muscle wasting and weakness. If on them need to wean slowly to avoid unecessary side effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KazzE Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Now this is one of the great things about the forums, sounds like you have some sensible advice and suggestions to follow up. I hope you find an answer, it must be so frustrating to get conflicting advice. I have found physios to be a great help in my recovery after years of osteopathy treatment that did not appear to help, but other people have found that type of treatment helped. recently I have found a physio who is taking the time to actually understand my particular issues and work with me rather than go for the 'usual' approach ie working both sides of the body equally - she understands that the left side needs strengthening more than the right - when I saw a different physio in the middle of treatment she had me do something off the original physios treatment plan ( she did not agree with it) and I ended up over extending myself and was set back. sounds like you need to speak to a specialist, hope you can find one, good luck and take care x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incata Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Hi Kate This may be of some limited help in terms of giving you an idea of how many calories are burned. It has leisure swimming and slow swimming and I appreciate that you may not reach this levels yet, but it may give you a rough idea. http://www.swimming.org/swimfit/calorie-cruncher/ I wish you a speedy recovery! C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobj Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Tell the quack you need a decent bl**dy feed!:yes: Not to worry, though. I'll have you charging around the scrub. Cheers, Bobj. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Hi Kate....I would recommend trying the tens machine for feet (the sort Dawn Fraser advertises on TV). I used one for a couple of weeks to help aching legs which were a problem for me in the evenings. Coincidentally, I happened to return to lap swimming after a 2 month break and was surprised to discover that my leg strength had noticeably increased during that time (in contrast to my arm strength which had noticeably declined). That was completely unexpected. You can hire these machines from pharmacies here...so I imagine the same in Cairns. Would definitely be worth trying for a couple of weeks to see if it helps :wubclub:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicF Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 You need protein to build muscle and 300 calories a day is barely enough to sustain a body laid in bed all day. Be very careful doing any exercise. A dip in the pool however would probably feel good as the water will help to support your weight - just don't try and do too much. You really need to work with your drs on this one. Is there any way they can increase the 300 calories a day? Either by increasing your intake or by increasing the energy density of what you are taking in? Assuming your muscle atrophy is purely down to your recent illness then it should be possible to build it back up again but you may need some specialist help with it. I know the forum is great and we are all just tying to help but I doubt any of us really know the full picture and your medical history and following advice gained from the forum might cause you more problems. Whatever you decide or manage to do I hope it all works out and you start feeling better soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graemsay Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 If you want to build muscle then you're going to need more than 300 calories per day, unfortunately. You have to have a calorific surplus to do so. That is, you need to eat more than your body requires for its day-to-day upkeep. I don't think that swimming will make things much worse. The amount of exercise that you have to do to lose weight is surprisingly large. But I'd really advise speaking to someone who's got a professional clue, rather than anonymous Internet types. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Physio was working with my oh as his legs had lost all muscle and it was resistance that he was using and bands. If he had survived and things had not been as they were they told him it would be a long long road to recover the muscle mass, lots and lots of rehab. Just concentrate on getting your strength up and do not be too anxious about it. Hydro pool was another with a physio in with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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