Seated vs. standing upper body work

[kimberlyh]

<center><font size="1" color="#ff0000">LAST EDITED ON Jul-24-00 AT 07:54PM (EST)</font></center>

Hello Cathe & educated crowd ... I need your help. For the next few weeks while my knee continues to heal, I am limited to doing upper body work from a seated position only. I haven't started PT yet, but I talked to my physical therapist and she strongly suggested that I only attempt upper body work while seated.

This has limited me pretty much to the PS upper body tapes. For CST, the chest and triceps segments are pretty unaffected, but I find that I can't do as much weight for the shoulders (especially arnold presses). On BBA, I have to modify most of the tape to use dumbbells instead of a barbell and go much lighter than normal, especially for the back. For all the workouts, I am using the most weight I can without losing form, but I'm pretty sure I could go heavier if I could stand.

My question is: how much am I losing by having to modify these workouts? Am I going to lose strength? It's depressing enough to see what's happening to my lower body after two weeks off. I'm allowed only to do straight leg raises, quadriceps tightening and some really easy pool exercises each day. I could do a million of each of these and it still won't compare to what I was doing pre-surgery. Sigh.

Any suggestions or kind words would help.

 

[lynn]

Hi Kimberly

I am not Cathe, but "I feel your pain." I just got my cast off of a severly broken foot, and had to modify my workouts EXACTLY like how you have had to. The bad news was that I did lose some lower body strength, not being able to do step, the P/S leg tape, or anything else lower body.
However the good news was that it wasn't much. I am now able to do a recumbent bike, and have been doing the second part of the Leg P/S series and I swear my legs look less bulky. I am doing floor work w/ 3 lb ankle weights and have really been surprised that my muscles aren't getting "mushy."( My worst Fear!)
The REALLY good news is that my upper body is even stronger than it was.. I am thinking it is because of two things: The first is that when you are doing things from a seated position you don't have your leg strength available to you to help you force the move. Even though you are lifting less weight, it is much more concentrated. Secondly, I noticed that because I could only do upper body, I was REALLY focusing on making the most of the each rep. Where as before, I would do it, but not as focused.
Lastly, if you are still using crutches, you will really notice a difference in your triceps, forearms and shoulders just from using those!!
Hang in there, I know how you feel.. It does kind of suck, but hey, at least you are still trying to work out, which is more than most people would even think about!!
Your friend in healing,
Limping Lynn

 

[aaarnow]

seated vs. standing

I seem to remember Cathe saying in one of her tapes that seated upper body work was harder than standing. It would make sense then that you've had to go lighter with your weights. As long as you are lifting as much weight as you can with proper form you are getting a good workout.

 

[Colia]

Hi Kim!

Hang in there girl! There's a lot of folks rooting for you out here, especially those of us who have been through what you're now experiencing. I agree with what everyone has said, and I also remember what Cathe mentioned in one of her posts, and that is, the better shape you were in prior to your setback, the easier it will be to get back to where you were.

So take heart, you'll be back in top shape before you know it, and will probably have the added benefit of an even stronger upper body. Keep with those seemingly insignificant leg exercises too, they'll keep you from losing muscle tone at the very least and will help when you start back.

Keep us posted!

Cheers,
Colia

 

[kathryn]

seated upper body work

Don't despair! It's only logical that you are able to lift less when seated--when standing, there is a tendancy for other muscles to help out, even when you don't notice it. When doing standing overhead presses, for example, you may push a bit with your legs, or when doing standing side lat raises, you may swing your body a bit, adding momentum that helps get the weight up. I think seated shoulder work isolates the shoulders better, and safegards your back.