Need Exercise Advice

Updated on March 03, 2011
L.M. asks from Rosman, NC
18 answers

I desperately need to lose some weight. I know I need to exercise. Problem: I have a plantar wart on my right foot where I bear weight so I limp when I walk. The limping is causing my left knee, that I broke last year, to get inflamed and swollen. Physical therapist says stay off it as much as possible. HOW do I exercise without putting weight on the right foot and causing the left knee to get inflamed and swollen?

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So What Happened?

The swimming would be great except the only pools open around here right now are members only and I can't afford the membership.

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L.C.

answers from Houston on

Take it easy until you can clear up the wart problem. Eat right in the meantime. Take an anti-inflammatory for the knee and begin exercise as soon as you feel you can.

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D.W.

answers from Charleston on

You can either swim or bike (biking will depend on where the wart is). Either one is low impact and great cardio.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Diet is 80% of weight loss.
Until you can workout (which you can still do upper body weight lifting an stationary exercise), focus on eating clean. You'll be amazed how much drops off in 2 weeks if you cut out saturated fats, oils and whites.
Eat whole wheats, eggs, lean meats (the white meats) and lots of green veggies. Flavor your sandwiches with vegetables, pepper, and mustards.

You'll be floored what little changes make so much different.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Swim
Exercise bicycle

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

Are you treating the plantar wart? I've had these since I was about 13. I have a fairly large one on the ball of my right foot and I run or workout daily.

The pain of walking on a plantar wart is caused by the dead skin built up on the skin's surface, not actually the wart itself. There is OTC medicine to put on it, then after a bath/shower/foot soak, you can scrape the dead skin off, which done daily will lessen/eliminate the pain of walking on it. Continue and it will eventually get rid of the wart. If that doesn't work soon enough for you, the wart can be removed by freezing, which is painful all at once, but fairly effective, and you can be exercising within a couple of days.

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B..

answers from Dallas on

Yes, water aerobics is wonderful!!

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C.A.

answers from Atlanta on

Plantar warts are hard to rid of because they have "seeds" if you don't get them all then it just comes back. Although I know a nature doc and believe it or not she said a bananna peel does the trick. I have not personally tried this however I have heard personal stories of others within my circle of friends that knows the doc and they testified that it worked! You can also google it online....I have even heard of people doing the bananna-combined with duct tape method and some claim a riper bananna peel is better than an older but like I said I don't have personal experience. I would try to rid of the plantars wart first. Others were suggesting swimming but those plantars wart are highly contagious from what I understand and if you go to a public pool just make sure you wear some sort of shoe so that others may not get it. Horseback riding is supposed to be good so I have heard from I'm too afraid to find out-lol! That wouldn't require you to be on your feet.

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S.B.

answers from Redding on

You can bend, stretch, lift and turn while sitting, can't you?
There are all kinds of exercises you can do that don't involve impact or weight bearing. Or swimming if you can't afford it.

I work in a hospital and people who have limited mobility are the ones encouraged to keep moving most of all. Even patients paralyzed from the chest down do therapy every day.
I had physical therapy for a broken leg and they worked my butt off!
Not just to strengthen my leg, but to keep the rest of me from falling apart.
Not being able to walk is tough, I know. There are still things you can do to keep your heart pumping and your blood flowing and keep moving.
Ask your doctor and your physical therapist for a plan.
Where there's a will........there's a way.

Best wishes!

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Look for exercises aimed at older people or those confined to wheel chairs or with limited mobility. You can still do things like leg lifts, maybe an exercise bike if you can get one, small weights for your arms. There are a lot of exercises you can do in a chair. or maybe modified pilates moves. Collagevideo.com lets you view video segments before buying if you think a dvd could help, plus you can return it even if you use it if it does not appeal to you after all. They have great customer service from my experience with them. Look into treatment for the plantars also. A friend of mine had one and cortisone shots worked as well as a special insert for her shoes.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

Try duct tape occlusion therapy!

Strange but it should work.

Buy a roll of gray duct tape and cover the wart completely. Leave the duct tape on for 6 days. At the end of the 6 days, remove the duct tape and wash the area, gently brushing off the dead skin surrounding the wart. You may need to repeat this procedure for up to 2 months if the wart is particularly stubborn but you should definitely see results.

Don't believe me? Give google a try and see what you can find. Best wishes!

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

I have never had a plantar wart, but if I were you I would swim and take a water aerobics class. Try to swim 5x a week doing laps. You can start with an instructor to give you some tips. You can always use a paddle board too at first.

T.B.

answers from Bloomington on

There are DVDs for the elderly where you exercise with small hand weights while sitting in a chair!

Free exercises:
leg lifts
lay on back and bicycle in the air
sit ups/crunches

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S.M.

answers from Atlanta on

You've received a lot of great advice. Something I didn't see mentioned though. What about a visit to the dermatologist for wart removal? They can do wonders with liquid nitrogen and even lazers. My sister has plantars on her toes too and they eliminated the problem for her last year.

Also, check into your local YMCA for a gym membership. You said you can't afford one, but perhaps they could work something out for you. I love the Y because of the indoor pool and their playcenter for my children. Good luck!!!

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S.D.

answers from Dallas on

Well, the only thing I can think of is water aerobics. You definitely don't put as much strain on your body, but really get a good workout. I never thought it was possible to sweat in a pool, but my instructor could always make it happen.

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V.T.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi Laurie,

Sounds painful!

How about swimming?

V.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Swimming would be best and biking would probably work well for you too! You can ride a regular bike or use a stationary bike. Spinning classes are FANTASTIC and will work your butt off!

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C.M.

answers from Dallas on

What about using a recumbent bike at your gym or fitness center? You'll put very little weight on the foot and you'll be reclining, so the knee should be in a good position. It will get your heart rate up and still be in a fat burn zone, and is much less stressful to your body than upright biking.

I would also recommend yoga, even if you have to wear a shoe or sock.

I've gotten those stupid plantar warts a long time too. They're awful. Have you tried any OTC wart remover? That usually works for me, but I get them between my 4th and 5th toes. I did have one on the ball of my foot once and that remover did finally get it. I'll admit, I'm a picker, so I helped it along. My ex husband had to go to a podiatrist once to have one removed and it was terrible, but it did finally get it done.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi L.,

Have you tried melaleuca (very high grade tea tree) oil on the wart? I had one a few years back and the oil got rid of it quickly. If not, have you thought about going to the podiatrist and having it removed?

Instead of swimming (because it is a virus it is contagious) try cycling. You can put pressure on a different area of your foot and adjust your other foot to match your cycling patterns.

Hope this helps..

PS Viruses respond to nutrition. Try an absorbable multivitamin to help your body fight it off...

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