9 replies to this topic

[Brad Williams]

I am a t12 incomplete. I have very bad contacted hips and legs I stretch almost everyday and I can't get them to straighin. Also I lay on my stomach for about an hour a day. Any suggestions.?

[wheeliebear75]

When you were an AB if you went on a road trip that was ALL DAY driving if you don't get out your legs would feel STIFF & hard to straighten as you 1st got out of the car. When we are able to walk/stand (I hear this is just one of the benefits of having a standing frame) our ligaments & tendons bend & straighten, the movement itself helps keep things moving. When we use wheelchairs our legs STAY in a seated position the majority of the time & can actually have "calcification" where the soft tissue that allow the joints to extend our limbs shrink & in extreme or prolonged cases they calcify (the tendons & ligaments) which then can ONLY be surgically corrected. If you want to get the hips & other joints moving again you have to do it every day constantly stretching further & further but so as not to hurt yourself or PULL (in a BAD way) anything til you have normal RoM (Range of Motion). Yoga on a floor mat is a great way to stretch out. Personally I use a modified Yoga mostly for meditation reasons but the stretching & YOGA (those moves that I do do) have kept any joints from locking up. Even though I was hurt 20+ yrs ago I can still have my legs in front of me & not only touch my fingers to my toes but my wrists to my heels.

[goose]

Hey Brad...Have you tried getting in a really warm bath or whirlpool first before you lie prone on your stomach or stretching? Or adding some kind of warmth to your hip area? I have found 'warmth' loosens things up.

[wheeliebear75]

goose, on 22 August 2011 - 06:51 AM, said:

Hey Brad...Have you tried getting in a really warm bath or whirlpool first before you lie prone on your stomach or stretching? Or adding some kind of warmth to your hip area? I have found 'warmth' loosens things up.

Good point goose!

[Brad Williams]

Yeah I've tried heat at PT but it didn't help much. I read that a standing frame was about the only way. Because weight bearing is about the only way to get them to release. I have one ordered through my PT. The only problem my PT knows nothing about it. Do either of you laddies?

[xxm]

Be careful and NEVER APPLY FORCE . Having limited sensation may lead to horrible injuries.
Years ago I was petrified when one boy broke his leg with his own hands feeling no pain at all.

Take care
Rudy

[Brad Williams]

Thanks Rudy.

[Millard]

Brad Williams, on 22 August 2011 - 05:35 AM, said:

I am a t12 incomplete. I have very bad contacted hips and legs I stretch almost everyday and I can't get them to straighin. Also I lay on my stomach for about an hour a day. Any suggestions.?

When you lay on your stomach, try to get your knees off the bed so your feet, shin and knees are off the bed suspended. Gravity will help you this way. When my legs start getting too tight, I put a higher stool (than my chair) in front of my chair, put a pillow on it and place a foot on the pillow. My wife then hangs and 20 lb. weight just above my knee using a bungee cord. I keep it this way about 15 minutes.

I hope this helps.

[Ginny]

The muscle group that is probably giving you the most hip trouble is the psoas. It's classic to get tight psoas when in a wheelchair or after a trauma. I was injured a year ago and have been working consistently to loosen the hips up. It's been a long road. Check the internet for suggestions on psoas stretching. One stretch that I did was to lay on the bed, near the edge. Then, drop the leg nearest the edge off the bed and let it hang. This is a really tough area to loosen up, so good luck with it.

[Brad Williams]

Thanks so much for everyones input ill be trying that.