Gaining muscle mass on affected limbs — Scope | Disability forum
Please read our updated community house rules and community guidelines.

Gaining muscle mass on affected limbs

AlejandraTR17
AlejandraTR17 Community member Posts: 9 Connected
edited September 2020 in Cerebral palsy
Hi, everyone! Have people been able to gain muscle mass in their affected limbs (i.e, legs, given spastic diplegia) with PT and/or exercise? Is it possible? Thanks!
Tagged:

Comments

  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
    Hi @AlejandraTR17
    Yes, it's absolutely possible using weight and resistance training plus swimming. I go to the gym regularly and I have found it to be very beneficial for my weaker limbs. I was lucky enough to find a personal trainer who designed an exercise regime for me. 
    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer and Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead

    'Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.

    Want to tell us about your experience in the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know. 
  • Chloe_Scope
    Chloe_Scope Posts: 10,586 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @AlejandraTR17, I have CP that prominently affects my left size. My left leg is thinner then my right but (pre-covid) I found that swimming helped. :)
    Scope

  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,964 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @AlejandraTR17 Welcome to the community glad you have joined us here

    I will tag in another member @chiarieds who may be able to help you with her experience
  • AlejandraTR17
    AlejandraTR17 Community member Posts: 9 Connected
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @AlejandraTR17 - sorry for the delay in replying, for some reason I could only get on the online community very briefly yesterday afternoon. Thank you for the tag @janer1967.
    I read you've just had surgery to stretch your hip abductor muscles, so I hope this would be followed up by physiotherapy. As mentioned above, swimming is one of the best exercises as it is rhythmical in nature. As far as your abductors go, you would need to start slowly, & build up gradually, and maintain gentle stretches as well as your core strength. Are you able to see a physiotherapist who specialises in neurological problems?
  • WestHam06
    WestHam06 Community member, Scope Volunteer Posts: 1,396 Pioneering
    Hi @AlejandraTR17
                                     How are you? In answer to your question, yes it is possible. In agreement with many of the replies to your question, swimming is a great way to achieve this along with physio. A little like @Richard_Scope has said weight and resistance training is also beneficial. I was also lucky enough to have a gym instructor as well who built a programme around my needs. I hope that this helps and please let us know how things progress. Thank you. 
  • AlejandraTR17
    AlejandraTR17 Community member Posts: 9 Connected
    @chiarieds, thank you so much for checking up on the adductor surgery. Feel very supported :blush:
    It was a SEMLS and they also did femoral derotation and all kinds of procedures. So I'll start physio when the casts come off both legs on Oct 2! I will be able to see a neuro specialist,


    Big thanks to both @chiarieds and  @WestHam06 -- I'd always been shy with gym trainers about my specific needs, thinking "all exercise is great," which is true, but it makes sense to ask for specific things -- core, abductors, etc. Thank you both!

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    You are very welcome @AlejandraTR17 - I worked as a physio a long time ago specialising in children who had cerebral palsy. Since joining Scope a year ago, I now realise how cerebral palsy can impact greatly on adults' lives; something I didn't think about then, as I was just trying to help children as much as I could.
    I have, however, maintained an interest in neurological problems..... just as well, as myself and family have a genetic disorder + a neurological component!
    I am pleased you will be able to get appropriate physio, & I bet you can't wait for the 2nd of October. Please kindly let us know how you get on. :)

  • WestHam06
    WestHam06 Community member, Scope Volunteer Posts: 1,396 Pioneering
    Hi @AlejandraTR17
                                     No problem and please let us know how you get on. Please feel free to ask anymore questions. Best wishes with you physio appointment. Thank you
  • AlejandraTR17
    AlejandraTR17 Community member Posts: 9 Connected
    Hi, all! Following up on this thread to say that I've been lucky to find a great physio to work on gaining muscle in affected limbs and HAVE gained muscle everywhere. <3 
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,638 Scope online community team
    That's fantastic @AlejandraTR17, hard work and dedication can produce results! keep it going! What is your exercise regime?
    Scope
    Specialist Information Officer and Cerebral Palsy Programme Lead

    'Concerned about another member's safety or wellbeing? Flag your concerns with us.

    Want to tell us about your experience in the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know. 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Community member Posts: 16,007 Disability Gamechanger
    Thank you for your update @AlejandraTR17 - that's really good news. Ever so pleased to read it. :)
  • WestHam06
    WestHam06 Community member, Scope Volunteer Posts: 1,396 Pioneering
    That's fantastic news @AlejandraTR17, I'm really pleased for you :) Thank you for letting us know 

Brightness