To help clients improve their balance and proprioception, or the ability to perceive their body in space, many personal trainers suggest starting with basic exercises and slowly working their way up to more difficult exercises. For some people, one of the most basic and easiest exercises to do is balancing on one leg.
Many of us with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) want to improve our symptoms. balance and working on our proprioception. However, balancing on one leg is incredibly difficult for us. If you can continue this for a long time, you will get great results.
Much of the fitness world wasn’t built with CMTers in mind. But we all know how important exercise is Total health and wellness. It’s unfortunate that so many of us in the disability community face hurdles when trying to stay physically active.
Exercise safety is extremely important to CMTers
Helping people with different abilities overcome these hurdles is julie stonea personal trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a proponent of CMT, does it almost every day.
“The world of exercise was not created for people with CMT,” Stone told me over video chat a few weeks ago. “If you look at the world of adaptive fitness, it’s not aimed at us CMTers. It’s mainly aimed at the elderly and people with spinal cord injuries. And while some of it is beneficial to us, it’s not aimed at us CMTers. There are certain things that CMT practitioners specifically need to address that are often not addressed or emphasized.”
According to Stone, CMT personnel need to focus on the activities we enjoy while also making sure we do what we’re meant to do. important movement It helps prevent the progression of CMT symptoms. Through all of this, we must consider exercise safety and personal constraints.
Safe for me means avoiding barbell squats and deadlift movements. I don’t have the mobility or strength needed to perform those exercises safely. Luckily, I found some good options by working with a personal trainer.
Ms. Stone also caters to her needs.
“I love dancing, but standing up takes a toll on my body, my knees, so I dance in a wheelchair,” Stone said. “It brings me a lot of joy and gives me a really good cardio workout.”
Exercise safety also means continually checking our bodies. We need to be aware of what we are feeling, our energy levels, and if any part of our body is hurting or not functioning at 100%.
“I always tell people to meet yourself where you are, because one day you can feel on top of the world and the next day you can feel terrible.” Stone said.
According to Stone, one of the best ways for CMTers to exercise safely is to work with a professional, such as a physical therapist or personal trainer. In addition to providing expertise and guidance, these professionals can also offer encouragement and suggestions on how to sustainably incorporate fitness into your daily life.
There are many CMTers working in the fitness industry.
“Someone can make sure you’re not doing anything that’s damaging your body and that you’re balancing your muscles to actually work the muscles you’re aiming for, rather than relying too much on already strong muscles. And it’s really important,” Stone said.
Note: Charcot-Marie-Tooth News is strictly a news and information website about this disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Charcot-Marie-Tooth News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues related to Charcot-Marie-Tooth.
