Exercise tips please!

[glennsten]

I'd like to know what you other Perthes people do to help stay in shape and particularly improve the problem areas.

Sadly I've had longer periods (several years) where I haven't been working out at all, twice now, but it's sort-of sunk in that not doing anything at all will probably just lead to being more stiff and weak, and I'm not looking forward to that degenerating too much as I get older, though it's inevitable to an extent I want to lessen the impact. Aiming to get an appointment with a physiotherapist again after all these years, but I think I might be able to cover the basics on my own until I get a shot at that.

What kind of warming up, stretching and movements do you folks do to improve your hip areas?

I'm open to most any tips or pointers, men or women, young or old, feel free to post!

[Donna Brown]

Hi

Best exercise of the lot is the one that the kids with perthes are recommended to do and works so well for the adults too, and that is swimming. Hydrotherapy, if you can access it is even better, as they are specific exercises done in water. Walking in water is another one.
Alternatively, bike riding, as long as you are safe on a bike!

The main thing is to limit the impact on the pelvis as much as possible, even now.

One point is to try to carry as little extra weight as possible too (I definitely let the side down on that one!), as this puts the pelvis under extreme pressure and potentially speeds up any deterioration.

Hoping that others come back with answers for you too.

Donna
PS: I have set up an adult perthes survivors group, if you are interested. There are many adults there, not a lot of whom have had hip replacements, but are in the process of trying to put that off for as long as possible. Contact me directly at [e-mail]

[glennsten]

I'm assuming it's this:
au.groups.yahoo.com/group/adultperthessurvivors/

I found that and registered an account at about the same time I found this site, thanks for your help.