United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

What type of exercise do you do after your injury that is easy for you? Please give me some ideas I cannot move my arm and my hand.

Thanks,

Susana

Hi Susana,

Besides my ROM and other physio therapy I also use the pool quite a bit. Swimming with one arm presents some new challenges. Using flotation assists like flutterboards can help so you can concentrate on getting the legs a good workout. Also other aquatic exercise is good - flotation belts help for running in deep water, or if the pool is shallow, regular aquatic running. I also ride a stationary recumbent bike, as well as a bike-e recumbent road bike. Where I live there are also a lot of hiking trails which I enjoy. I am hoping to get back to playing soccer but I have a knee and hip injury I have to deal with first. Hope some of these suggestions help.

Lorrie, tell me more about your recumbent road bike

I started biking again 5 mths post accident. I use a recumbent bike-e. It's great because you don't have to put weight on the arms. Also if there is a loss of balance due to a fast stop or something else your feet hit the ground first. I haven't modified it yet so I basically use 7 speeds instead of 21 and one brake instead of two. Its really comfortable to ride but until I can use more gears, no big hills. Its a road bike but there are off-road bikes as well. I don't know all the manufacturers but there are a lot of recumbents out there. The link below shows what mine is like. I don't know the person who has the site, I just did a search for bike-e. I bike to all my pt and dr appointments. It's nice

http://www.tachyonlabs.com/mybike.html

I was just doing some surfing bikes and came across a site that sells recumbents and does modifications for special needs. One they mention is single side controls for one arm bikers. Thought some of you would be interested.

http://www.lightfootcycles.com/

Swimming is good, so is horseriding, it really helps my posture and reduces the neck/shoulder joint pain. I do often damage the arm riding thogh, I find strapping it up limits my movement too much and leaving it hanging free is easier, just exposes it to injury that I can't feel at the time and only notice later. Once I looked down to see the horses neck and shoulder were absolutely dripping with blood, I thought she was injured....nope, it was the knuckles of my bpi hand rubbing on the saddle....and took months to heal. If you can't feel your hand beware of this, I always tape up my hand now.

Hi,

My dad just had a nerve reconstruction 3 to 4 weeks ago (BPI). The doctor say they can only help to give him back some function of the left hand but not the fingers (I don't know whether it include the palm) and he suggested we use the nerve stimulator to help preserve the fingers for the nerve to grow but the problem is my dad also had heart problem which the physitherapist is against my dad using the nerve stimulator so...

My question... does anyone here who have gone for a surgery and able to regain back the hand and fingers?

I am so depressed coz just know the answer from the physiotherapist.

Please advise.


Thanks,
Hwee Yong

These are my favorite topics ! Rollerblading is awesome exercise. Running is good too. I strap my arm in a sling with the swathe warpped around it (www.armsling.com) I highly recommend this sling for any exercise where there is bouncing and you want to immobilize the arm. Stationary bikes are good but boring. If you are by the water, I recommend the Hobie Mirage Kayak (www.hobie.com). It is a foot pedaled kayak.

Swimming ? That is my true passion, but I have given it up because I can not find a good waterproof sling to secure my arm. I feel a little discomfort when I swim with my arm just dangling. I feel that it puts too much pressure on the elbow joint. Any suggestions here would be greatly appreciated.

-Rich

Rich, my guess is there isn't any water proof slings out there. But if you have a sling style you like use it as a pattern. Buy some waterproof material from a fabric store and find a seamstress that could make one for you. I used to do a fair amount of sewing and a sling would be easy for someone with even a little experience. You could eveen have it made of neoprene, like a dive suit. Then its probably not sewing but gluing that would be needed. If you come up with a good design you might be able to sell them Good luck.

Lorrie