In a cast up to my knee

beefcake2

Hello

Just had a cast put on up to my knee after breaking my big toe in six places! I have to keep the cast on for six weeks and may have to have the joints fused afterwards. Is this likely to cause problems with muscle wasting and problems with my pedalling (I know I can't pedal with the cast on!)

Is there anything I can do to combat the potential problems? Would doing 1 leg sessions on a turbo with my good leg be worth while. My good leg is my weeker leg.

Thanks

Beefcake2

slowlanejane

IMO you are better off waiting for the cast to come off. Your muscles in your lower leg will atrophy but there's b*gger all you can do abt that with a cast on, and they'll come back in about the same period afterwards.

Trying to keep the rest of you fit & active is deffo a good idea but easier said than done when you get to the nitty gritty of the practicalities of exercising with a cast on. One legged cycling - hmmm, be careful you dont put your back out - its easily done esp as you'll be wonky alot over the next few weeks.

this might be a golden opportunity to do a block of core strengthening & stretching which will do your cycling (and general health) no end of good in the longer run.

beefcake2

Thanks Slowlanejane

Do you have any suggestions for core exercises as I have to keep weight off my right leg?

Cheers

Beefcake2

slowlanejane

Give me a mo and I'll find some for you with links.

BruceG

Off topic but how the hell did you manage to do that????? six breaks is an awful lot for a small item like a toe. Guess it was painful!

Wirral_paul

Ouch that sounds nasty - bet that hurt.

So is your knee itself in plaster?? If not then you could always make a template of the bolt pattern off your shoe and then drill / tap your plaster cast to accept a cleat!!

beefcake2

I created the original post on my iPhone and made a typo. It is 5 breaks not 6!. I did while away at my sister in laws for Christmas. I chased my nephew up the stairs and slipped. My toe bent back on itself with a loud crack and then my foot slipped to the next stair below and did exactly the same thing again! It has broken clean through about 3mm in front of the joint. The smaller bit of bone then broke a further 4 times with each fracture going in to the joint. Apparently I WILL get arthritis and I may have to have an operation to fuse that joint pretty soon!

I can safely say that it was the most painful thing that has happened to me. Weirdly, straight afterwards I tried to walk the pain off and walk OK without too much pain. I then sat down for 2 minutes and when I tried to get back up and walk again and realised that it was pretty bad!

I like the idea of adding a cleat to my cast. Would this be a good time to switch from Look pedals?

rake

i wouldnt think youl have much movement anyway because if it got wrenched down like i did the tendons are probably stretched. its likely to affect your walk far more than cycling so not worry.