Aa
Brilliant Exercise Solution (I think anyway...)
I just thought I'd throw this out there for everyone that's been dealing with exercise intolerance for so long (like me)... I just got a Nintendo Wii and the Wii Fit Plus... I'm sure you all know what these are but they are interactive video games, but not 'shoot 'em up' games... there's like tennis and baseball and bicycling, etc. and the Wii Fit teaches you strength exercises, yoga, balance, etc. It also measures your body stats and follows your progress. You can do as light and minimal exercise as you want, in the air conditioning of your home and I have a couch to fall back on right next to me if I need it. I swear I'm not a sales person for the Wii but I honestly think that for people like us it's brilliant. If you think you are up to it, I would definitely try it.
I hope this helps someone out there!!
I hope this helps someone out there!!
I think that's a great idea, but I would suggest everyone be careful not to push themselves beyond their limit, which is easy to do when you get caught up in these games.
My son (with severe OI) started playing Dance Dance Revolution when he was six years old. By the time he was eight (when he started having symptoms) he was extremely good at it, but he pushed himself to exhaustion to "get the top score". He was almost obsessed with this very physically demanding game, became faster and faster at it, and won the admiration of his friends (which I'm sure helped feed his obsession to be one of the best DDR players).
As he got sicker, he still tried to play it, but at age eleven it became impossible.
Now, he can't even stand up for more than 30 seconds. : (
At first I thought it was good exercise for him, but I have since read how so many athletes, who push themselves beyond their physical limits regularly, end up with AD or chronic fatigue syndrome. There is some research that suggests that "over-training" plays a role in these illnesses. Physical stress can reach dangerous levels.
I think most of you are probably already aware of what your current physical limitations are, and are careful not to push yourselves too hard, because you have experienced what happens to you when you do!
Remember, you must control the game, don't allow the game to control you.
I think the yoga and strength exercises would be very helpful.
My son (with severe OI) started playing Dance Dance Revolution when he was six years old. By the time he was eight (when he started having symptoms) he was extremely good at it, but he pushed himself to exhaustion to "get the top score". He was almost obsessed with this very physically demanding game, became faster and faster at it, and won the admiration of his friends (which I'm sure helped feed his obsession to be one of the best DDR players).
As he got sicker, he still tried to play it, but at age eleven it became impossible.
Now, he can't even stand up for more than 30 seconds. : (
At first I thought it was good exercise for him, but I have since read how so many athletes, who push themselves beyond their physical limits regularly, end up with AD or chronic fatigue syndrome. There is some research that suggests that "over-training" plays a role in these illnesses. Physical stress can reach dangerous levels.
I think most of you are probably already aware of what your current physical limitations are, and are careful not to push yourselves too hard, because you have experienced what happens to you when you do!
Remember, you must control the game, don't allow the game to control you.
I think the yoga and strength exercises would be very helpful.
I was glad to hear this is working for you! I have not seen one of the Wii's in person but have talked to a few people who said they like them. I have wondered too if it would be a way to exercise indoors in winter and with our limitations. (collective "our" as those of us on the forum) I used to love to play tennis and there is no way I would even attempt that now. It would be fun tho to get the arm exercise and use the eye hand co-ordination that he game would provide.
I am not competitive so I don't think I would get into overdrive but that is a valid point to watch for as enzymelover pointed out.
Do each one comes with different exercises or sports games? I am wondering how you bycicle. The tennis I can understand as you would have a racket.
Also have another question on he subject of exercise. In reading journal articles I have read that it is suggested that besides other exercise those with dysautonomia get some aerobic exercise. I am still trying to get that one through my head. I mean in aerobic you are trying to get your heart up to a certain level. On the one hand in our group here are those who have too high a level and are trying to keep it down and the other group who's hearts won't speed up at all. Aerobic doesn't seem possible in my brain. Am I missing something?
Marie
I am not competitive so I don't think I would get into overdrive but that is a valid point to watch for as enzymelover pointed out.
Do each one comes with different exercises or sports games? I am wondering how you bycicle. The tennis I can understand as you would have a racket.
Also have another question on he subject of exercise. In reading journal articles I have read that it is suggested that besides other exercise those with dysautonomia get some aerobic exercise. I am still trying to get that one through my head. I mean in aerobic you are trying to get your heart up to a certain level. On the one hand in our group here are those who have too high a level and are trying to keep it down and the other group who's hearts won't speed up at all. Aerobic doesn't seem possible in my brain. Am I missing something?
Marie
I definitely agree to not over do it with exercise. Maybe I should have prefaced the post with that, but I know I'm personally pretty well aware of my limitations. I also have a build up time to exercise related symptoms, so I have a little bit of warning and that forces me to know when to stop. It's not a long build up time but it is there for me, I'm not sure if everyone else has that. I also think generally us adults that have been dealing with this for so long are probably more familiar with what is safe for each of us and willing to stop when we know we should. But with kids/teenagers, they frequently seem to think they can conquer the world and don't always know their limits and I'm sure it would be smart to be careful in monitoring them.
Marie- I've totally wondered the same thing... if exercise is one of the major triggers and my nervous system and heart are already in overdrive how does it make sense to attempt to do something that's going to amplify that?? It seems very counter-intuitive... My thinking with getting the Wii is that maybe I can do a very slow buildup to be able to do even a little bit of aerobic exercise. I mean right now I'm exhausted in less than 5 minutes of video game tennis! But I'm hoping if I keep doing it I'll be able to handle a little more over time. And I guess if you're worried about overdoing it you could talk to your dr. and come up with a safe 'exercise schedule' to adhere to.
I just really miss playing real tennis too! I used to be pretty good, if I do say so myself :) And if you used to play tennis and know your strokes it senses the subtleties in the way you swing your arm to hit the ball. It's very cool.
So in regard to the games it comes with... the Wii console comes with a disc that has tennis, baseball, bowling, and golf I think and another that has a whole bunch of other sports (I just got it so I haven't played or even looked at all of them). The bicycling is part of the Wii Fit Plus which you buy separately and comes with a balance board to stand on that measures your movement and weight distribution on it. So the bicycling for example, there's no bike to sit on, but you stand on the balance board and kind of do the same motions with your legs like you would when pedaling... it almost looks like walking in place, while holding the controller up to guide your bike's movement on the screen. So you can "pedal" faster or slower by moving your legs faster or slower, and the video bike matches what you are physically doing. It comes with a ton of other games and "exercises" but I haven't gotten to those yet. And with something like tennis or golf you literally just hold the controller in your hand and swing the way you would if you were holding an actual racket or club.
If you do get it let me know what you think!
Marie- I've totally wondered the same thing... if exercise is one of the major triggers and my nervous system and heart are already in overdrive how does it make sense to attempt to do something that's going to amplify that?? It seems very counter-intuitive... My thinking with getting the Wii is that maybe I can do a very slow buildup to be able to do even a little bit of aerobic exercise. I mean right now I'm exhausted in less than 5 minutes of video game tennis! But I'm hoping if I keep doing it I'll be able to handle a little more over time. And I guess if you're worried about overdoing it you could talk to your dr. and come up with a safe 'exercise schedule' to adhere to.
I just really miss playing real tennis too! I used to be pretty good, if I do say so myself :) And if you used to play tennis and know your strokes it senses the subtleties in the way you swing your arm to hit the ball. It's very cool.
So in regard to the games it comes with... the Wii console comes with a disc that has tennis, baseball, bowling, and golf I think and another that has a whole bunch of other sports (I just got it so I haven't played or even looked at all of them). The bicycling is part of the Wii Fit Plus which you buy separately and comes with a balance board to stand on that measures your movement and weight distribution on it. So the bicycling for example, there's no bike to sit on, but you stand on the balance board and kind of do the same motions with your legs like you would when pedaling... it almost looks like walking in place, while holding the controller up to guide your bike's movement on the screen. So you can "pedal" faster or slower by moving your legs faster or slower, and the video bike matches what you are physically doing. It comes with a ton of other games and "exercises" but I haven't gotten to those yet. And with something like tennis or golf you literally just hold the controller in your hand and swing the way you would if you were holding an actual racket or club.
If you do get it let me know what you think!
I love the Wii and try to do two songs of my daughters dance game (its not dance dance revolution)....you pick a song and follow along to the silly character dancing, some days I do it sitting down just to move something and honestly to lift my spirit because the songs and movements are just funny.
I also do some of the sport and resort games, some of them can be done moving your legs and arms sitting too.
I avoid the balance board since I still get so dizzy on stable ground but maybe one day....I did stand on it to let it weigh me (and then wanted to throw it...haha) but I did it with someone standing there in case.
I also do some of the sport and resort games, some of them can be done moving your legs and arms sitting too.
I avoid the balance board since I still get so dizzy on stable ground but maybe one day....I did stand on it to let it weigh me (and then wanted to throw it...haha) but I did it with someone standing there in case.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Autonomic Dysfunction Community
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
Salt in food can hurt your heart.
Get answers to your top questions about this common — but scary — symptom
How to know when chest pain may be a sign of something else
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
