United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I don't think you would be damaging the nerve(s) themselves doing this exercise, BUT it would be really hard on your muscles on the BPI side for sure.

I used to go to the gym too and do just about all the machines.. yes some of them hurt me more the day after because I was weaker and it made my BPI shoulder work too hard.

As for running, I hate running (my knees are crap) so I used the eliptical machine. I found that was easier on my whole body. Have you tried that?

I figure skated, swam and did Ballet until I was 28. Tried Yoga, and that hurt my arm worse than the other three ever did. Too much stretching my BPI arm (I didn't realize it at the time, just the next day).

Whatever you do at the gym, just be careful that the motion doesn't bother the joint(s) affected by the BPI. Sore muscles is one thing, but joint pain is another. A lot of us get arthritis early on with a BPI (shoulder, wrist, fingers).

Be careful about tendonitis too and bursitis.

I suggest using less heavy weight, do more reps but without pain.

hiya,

i work in a brain injury rehabilitation unit and i was asking the physio about a shooting pain down my arm - then i added in that it gets significantly worse when i do pressups at the gym! her response was sheer shock and disbelief that i would think of doin pressups with my bpi arm. The physio is really young hip and a really has the attitude of "try it and see if u can do it". but she definately wasnt in favour of this type of exercise.

as you will know from your own experiences, all of our lives we do things that every1 else does but we do it slightly different, well i do the same with pressups but the physio said that "the difference" could possibly be damagin the nerve even more. But i think when i do pressups i can do them ok - strength wise but i know my arm looks a bit different.

I also run a fair bit and she said this this wasnt the best thing to do bcos of the pumping motion of the arm, so now im like feeling like "well what am i meant to do?"

so i was wondering whether professionals go a bit far on their advice or whether this should be followed? or should i see a bpi specialist about this? i went to the gym yesterday and absolutely cant not run! lol but i did avoid the pressups which was upsetting.

what kind of exercise do you/did you do? and do u think it adversely effected your arm?

michelle