[benok]

I noticed that I am having a hard time increasing the bulk of my legs which is hyporeflexive.
I have been using TENS to keep it from atrophying, however, just looking at it, it is so alarming because it is becoming thin.

Any advise?

What food can we take to further increase the bulk and exercises too?

[Bulky]

Hello Benok,
In order to gain muscle mass, your best method is to use resistance training, i.e. - weights, to achieve large gains in muscle size. Unless you can actively use your legs you wont get these large gains. Unfortunately we all lose muscle mass in certain areas as part of an SCI and most times, we just can't get it back to it's original state because we can't exercise the area any more . I used to be a cyclist with large strong legs. They've atrophied a fair bit, so I just wear stylish baggie jeans when I go out "socialising."
Best of luck,

[Andrew Meddings]

be carfull what you wish for ,you may get it. i must be a freak of nature my legs havn't lost any muscle in seven years
looking at them you would think i'm a runner or the like. the dissadvantage is they weigh heaps & lifting them is a struggle . they are like a anchor when transfering & when they have a spasm if i'm not holding on its not uncommon to throw me out of my chair. give me stick legs like every other para i know any day

[benok]

My left leg is so spastic that it tends to be much bigger; my right leg is less reflexive. It buckles every time I stand. We'll thanks bulky for the advise. I have to concentrate on my weaker leg. I will start on ankle weights for extension and flexion. Although there are strong crepitations too in the knee. I think I must not likewise overdo it for precaution as andrew advised, (nice music in your myspace link)

[Texaswheelz]

I haven't lost much mass in my legs after 16 years, I have no idea why not. The only thing i do is stretch my legs every morning before I get out of bed untill they become flexible and not stiff and having spasms. I do 3-4 different stretch's, all the ones that they showed me in rehab when I was hurt. I just went back to a rehab center a couple of months ago to a wheelchair clinic to look at different wheelchairs and get measured for a new one, the physical therapist was amazed at how big my legs still were and asked what i'd been doing. My legs were pretty skinny before I got hurt as I was a long distance runner in high school, but they were tone, but they are pretty much the same now as they were then.

[RYAN68]

i was in a research study at the university of Iowa, they gave me a standing chair and a stimulation box. I was to put contact pads on my quadracept and hook it to the stim box, the stim box would run a electical current through my leg and put a "artificial" load on my muscles and bones, I would be standing when I was doing this, and the standing chair would have a meter on it to measure the force I was putting out. I would get up to 50lbs somtimes...but they wanted me to do this about 5 times a week, and by the time I would get around to it, it would be like 12-1am and I would be so tired i just wouldnt do it. So i gave it up about 2 weeks ago. I was "training" my left leg and you can definately tell a difference in size as compared to my right leg. I know I should keep doing it, but i cant keep up my end of the deal to help them, so I had to give it up, i guess its my loss

[benok]

i think I have to see my physiotherapist. The weakness in one of my legs is very prominent. Having a hard time to stand from the parallel bars

[ihaveaheartofgold67]

Andrew Meddings, on Apr 28 2007, 09:23 PM, said:

be carfull what you wish for ,you may get it. i must be a freak of nature my legs havn't lost any muscle in seven years
looking at them you would think i'm a runner or the like. the dissadvantage is they weigh heaps & lifting them is a struggle . they are like a anchor when transfering & when they have a spasm if i'm not holding on its not uncommon to throw me out of my chair. give me stick legs like every other para i know any day

i am just like you, my legs,but ,n hips all got bigger since i was in the chair and stayed that way. it is hell trying to transfer,or dressing is like lifting weights.im tired just getting my shower n dressing n tranfering. i cant do alot of weights or exercise, do to a bad car accident i was in before my sci. i need 3 operations on my shoulder and arm.so it is too hard to do exercise like most recomend. my city is backwards as far as accessable places so going to a gym is not accessable. i do use a theraband red and green, to pull to my limitations,.at least it is something. any one have ideas?

[EmHope]

I am a C6 complete, but do a lot therapies inorder to keep my muscle tone etc. I got this FES bike last summer and have been doing it at least 3 times a week. I've built my legs up to pedel for an hour with resistance and I bike about 9.3 miles in the hour. I got it mostly for circulation, to keep up musle tone and bone density too. My legs are so strong Check it out here: http://www.restorative-therapies.com/

[benok]

EmHope, on Jun 8 2007, 03:31 AM, said:

I am a C6 complete, but do a lot therapies inorder to keep my muscle tone etc. I got this FES bike last summer and have been doing it at least 3 times a week. I've built my legs up to pedel for an hour with resistance and I bike about 9.3 miles in the hour. I got it mostly for circulation, to keep up musle tone and bone density too. My legs are so strong Check it out here: http://www.restorative-therapies.com/

Hello Em, I used to exercise with the stationary bike too, at least you let me remember to work with it again. the only thing that prevents me in using it is because it dislodges my colostomy bag when I do the motions of pedalling. Would you have any advise? Thanks