Working out after injury?

[Buttercup Clothing]

Hi all. I injured my ankle in January, torn ligaments small bone fracture. I have just graduated from crutches to ankle brace and I'm thrilled to be walking. I am not however thrilled with the current butt & gut situation. I'd like to start working out again, but my ankle still becomes sore from time to time and I don't have a great range of movement just yet. Are there any workouts  you guys can recommend that would not involve standing up? Or that are gentle enough to not further injure myself? Thanks :)

[Texas Timebomb]

That was me last year... I broke my leg in two places right above my ankle. Start off with range of motion excercises to get your ankle back up to par and relieve some of the soreness. (like ankle circles, tracing the alphabet with your toes, standing up on your tip toes etc) Then from there you should do low impact excercise like the stationary bicycle or swimming and work your way up to other excercises from there to strengthen the leg like leg lifts etc.. just stay away from the treadmill! If you look online you can find tons of great things that are safe to do but will get you moving again. and dont forget to stretch! GOOD LUCK!

[Buttercup Clothing]

Thanks for your reply and great suggestions. The doctor told me to do some stretching exercises with one of those stretchy rubber band things, but I don't have one and seeing as how it was my driving foot that was hurt, I couldn't go get one. :( So I have been trying to do it with tea towels. I miss my eliptical but won't dare try it for quite awhile. I'll have to try the alphabet thing and just go super slow on my exer-cycle. Hope your leg is back to normal and feeling good! Never know how much we take walking for granted until we can't walk!

[Miss Chelsea Moaning]

You poor thing!

I broke both ankles a few years ago that left me in a wheelchair for about 3 months. In those three months I gained close 50 pounds! I agree with Miss Texas in that the bike, swimming, and those rubber bands will make a world of difference but most importantly is to watch what you eat. Since you are not moving as much you have to modify what you take in-I wish I had done this. There are some exercises you can do in a chair such as leg lifts and all kinds of knee lifts-sorta like doing crunches. It's true that you really don't know how awesome walking is until you can't anymore.

I hope you get to feeling better soon and here is a link for some bands! http://www.amazon.com/Physical-Therapy-Exercise-Bands-Anchor/dp/B00...

[Buttercup Clothing]

Thank you! And yes walking is a wonderful thing! I'm glad you are healed up! I did not do a really great job of watching my food intake at all! I was actually out walking my dogs and trying to work off those Christmas cookies when I was injured. (shape ups did not work for me!). I think the combination of being stuck on the sofa for several months, and having taught my teen daughter to make such things as pumpkin bread and homemade pizza really did a number on my weight! Of course I am grateful she was able to help with dinner and such while I was laid up! But oh lawd I need to get back into my swimsuit before I can swim! I think I also need to get a neoprene ankle brace for swimming.