? Injured - Need Substitution

K

K60

Cathlete
Hi, hopefully Honeybunch or one of you can give me an idea.

I broke my left big toe 3 months ago and it has never really healed. Maybe it's because I keep doing static lunges and calf raises on it :)

Anyway, it's gotten to where it's real agony to do those static lunges on my right leg (with the left one back). Today, I was doing my usual PS Legs and I fell during that second static lunge section on the right leg. I just can't hold the weight on my toe any more.

So what exercise can I substitute for those static lunges on that side to get hopefully close to the same benefit. If I can't figure something out, I guess the next step is to try and bolster the toe with padding or something. I'm not going to quit doing the leg work, that's for sure.

Thanks.
 
You'll definitely want to keep weight off that toe so it can heal. I think static lunges probably put more weight on it than any other exercise. You might try some deep plié squats or leg presses as substitutions (I sub both of these exercises for the slow and heavy lunges, since doing the move at the slower speed puts too much stress on one of my knees. I do one set of leg presses, then a set of plié squats, then another set of leg presses).
 
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jun-24-02 AT 02:53PM (Est)[/font][p]I have a substitute, but it requires an Ultratoner which Spri products sells (not an expensive piece of equipment at all). You can do a leg press with one foot at a time, no toes in the mix at all. If you want, I can scan a pic of the exercise and e-mail it to you.

http://www.spriproducts.com
 
Hi,

Can you still do squats? If so, I would recommend squats and the leg press machine for your compound exercises, then hamstring curls and deadlifts and the leg extension machine.
Rest your toe, keep it elevated, and ice it down 3 times a day for 15 minutes. Hopefully that will alleviate the pain and aid in healing.
If you don't have access to those machines, I like the previous poster's idea of plie' lunges. also try side lunges, because you will still be on your whole foot, not balancing on your toes.
For PS, I would implement more squats and side lunges while she is doing the lunge portion.

Hope this helps!
Cari
 
Listen to your body. Take some time off. Do activities which do not require high level of stress on the toe. Try some water running or aerobics with weights on your ankles. By continuing to workout with this injury you will only prolong the healing process. Your body will not deteriorate if you lay off a bit and your toe will thank you for it.


Rhonda
 
One more thing. If you haven't already, you probably want to get it checked out by a doctor.

Rhonda
 
I scanned the pics, and will e-mail them to you. This exercise is done on your back, so there will be little pressure on your tootsies.
 
Suggestions

Do Pilates "side series"--get a Jennifer Kries tape.
Focus on mat leg work such as Firms legs & Abs floor work only; do cathe's Pure Strength leg work--except for lunges, of course.
You may skip calf raises, too.
As for cardio--do low Impact such as Charlene Prickett; Karen Voight's Smooth Moves; Core Essentials.
Believe me, there are PLENTY of alternatives. Murph
 
RE: Suggestions

You must give your toe 3 to 4 weeks to heal. That means no lunges, even if it's feeling better and you think sneaking in a workout will be fine. :) My body bar rolled off my step and onto my toe last year and, my, oh my, it messed my toe up. Lunges were excruciating as you well know! I have two sets of 5 pound ankle weights, adding up to 20 pounds and I used them for the old fashioned seated leg extension and the standing hamstring curl as well as the step up or leg press and those painful sit and stands until the toe recovered, which it did. After about a month, I resumed lunging. It's funny because I really hate lunges but you know the old saying absence makes the heart grow fonder? I was actually happy to do them again! Good luck and listen to your tootsies!

Bobbi http://www.plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif Chick's Rule!
 
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