Chronic injuries from exercise, anyone?

_Ann_

I have a question for all you super-exercising women, particularly women 40's and beyond.  Do you have trouble with chronic injuries? What do you do about that?

For me, every time in the past I had a regular exercise habit I have developed some kind of nagging problem (knee trouble from jogging, painful bunions from inline skating, both of the above from Bikram yoga, hip pain from race walking) that eventually led to me quitting. I am determined to stick with exercise since BC due to all the benefits for reducing recurrence and side effects.  I am hoping to luck out with plain old walking, but after only a few weeks am starting to notice some new knee and shin pains.

ruthbru

Are you wearing good shoes, not only when your are walking, but all the time? Not only do I buy shoes with lots of support but also I bought those Dr. Sholls inserts that you see adverized at Walmart, where you stand on the machine and it tells you what level to buy. I put them in my walking shoes, and bought lighter inserts for all the rest of my dressier shoes. I get rid of the shoes the minute I start having any knee, hip, shin twinges.

edited to add; mix things up, don't do the same exercises every day. Walk one day, tone the next, maybe swim or dance or whatever the next.

_Ann_

Ruthbru, I am probably due for some new shoes.  These are running shoes that sat in the closet unused for years until I started the daily walking.  When not wearing those I usually wear Wolky (european comfort sandals).  I do tend to get one exercise habit and do the same thing every time-- mixing it up is a smart thing to try.

Blessings2011

Ann - I am a total, committed Couch Potato. But last March, I joined a medically supervised weight loss program, and exercise was mandatory.

Being overweight and having fibromyalgia, you can imagine how thrilled I was to think of all the ways I could hurt myself......

I started by slow walking....strolling, really,....in a great pair of new walking shoes with Power Step orthotics. Now I can do power walking again, and I love it!

I went back to the gym, which is located in the Outpatient Physical Therapy department of our local Rehabilitation hospital. All the trainers are PTs. I had a program designed specifically for me that would not aggravate old injuries, or initiate new ones.

My balance sucks from several vestibular disorders. I had a bad fall off my mountain bike years ago and never got back on. But DH surprised me with a raspberry colored adult tricycle, and now I can fly down city trails without worrying about taking a tumble.

But the best exercise I've gotten has been in the therapy pool at the hospital. Kept at 94 degrees, it's perfect for sore muscles and aching joints. I go for water aerobics three times a week, for 90 minutes. We do stretching, cardio, strengthening, and resistance exercises. I can run faster, jump higher, and do more in the water than I can on dry land.

So far, I've lost 50 pounds and 63 inches. I start Anastrozole next month, and I know I'll have to keep moving to stave off joint pain.

Hope you find something that works for you!

ruthbru

Wow Blessings, that is wonderful!

Blessings2011

Thanks, ruthbru!