Saturday I had my best cardio workout since my ACL operation. I went to my gym and, after pushups, situps, crunches and some s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g, which I haven't done often, I tried out the rowing machine for 10 minutes, then went on the elliptical for 20. It felt really good.
I've gained about 8 pounds since the operation, but now I can start upping the cardio workouts, I hope that will burn off some of the weight.
Today, after chores, I want to do some physical therapy homework (mostly involving bending or slowly torquing my left knee with weight on it) and then some shadow boxing and a bag workout. I've got a little bag in the basement--I would guess 50 pounds. It's not long enough to do kicking and punching (I mostly kick low, due to flexibility issues at my age, but also since I don't want people catching my leg in sparring). Heck, I can't do much kicking yet anyway. But my sensei said to start using the bag for punches, so I've been trying to do so. (The first time, I realized how unconditioned my hands had become to punching a bag, even with wraps and gloves on.)
2 comments:
I am almost 59 and a sandan (3rd degree) black belt in JKA Shotokan karate. I have ACL surgery on my left leg in two days. I hope to bounce back and test for my yondan (4th degree) around a year after surgery. Needless to say, I want to rehab and take it easy but still push myself to maintain as much as possible and loose as little as possible. I am glad I found this blog because it gives me hope. My surgeon does not want me to continue karate but it is too big a part of my life to give up. I also teach and have for about 7 years now. I hope to continue to go to class in my gi and instruct although I do understand I will not be able to do much with my legs for many months. I have had surgery on both knees in the past 5 years and I do know what it is like to come back. This is my biggest surgery and one I want because I have been training for 5 years with a torn ACL. I wear a big titanium and carbon fiber brace. That lets me train and I can do everything I need but my leg has gone downhill and my knee is looser. I need this surgery but I am concerned about being able to continue to train. Did you do the stationery bike during rehab? I will keep my core strong. I will do push ups and sit ups and I will try to keep from hurting myself again but I do want to train. To me that is a driving force in my life.
Goodstuff,
Best of luck with your ACL surgery. You'll find some tips in this blog and in a couple of others that I've linked to on my blog.
Recovering from ACL surgery is long and painful, but in the end you will have a stable knee again.
While I"m nowhere near your level in the martial arts, I know something of the importance they hold for you. Best of luck, and let me know how it goes.
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