Should my Grandma get a treadmill?
September 13, 2009 10:01 PM Subscribe
Should I get my Grandma a treadmill?
My 86 y/o Grandma has had a tough year- knee and hip surgery in January, followed by a couple of months of rehab. She was still struggling to walk without lurching from anchor to anchor in June. She is back at home and concerned about not regaining her strength as fast as she wants. She is doing physical therapy and wants to start being more physically active.
However, she lives on a steep hill, and doesn't want to have to drive to either a flat area (where she could walk outside) or the gym. She says driving even somewhere close requires such focus that she is exhausted for the rest of the day. She doesn't want to be picked up and driven to the gym. She won't do anything involving a pool, ever, end of story.
She wants me to find her a treadmill, budget <$200. I'm concerned that she may hurt herself using it. She falls pretty regularly and isn't super stable on her feet. She uses a cane. I've read about geriatric use of treadmills and understand the most important thing is making sure it has a "true zero" belt speed, and I've ordered Strong Women Stay Young, per a previous thread...
But does anyone have any wisdom on whether this is a bad move, or have any other in-house suggestions as to things she may be able to do to be more active without driving?
My 86 y/o Grandma has had a tough year- knee and hip surgery in January, followed by a couple of months of rehab. She was still struggling to walk without lurching from anchor to anchor in June. She is back at home and concerned about not regaining her strength as fast as she wants. She is doing physical therapy and wants to start being more physically active.
However, she lives on a steep hill, and doesn't want to have to drive to either a flat area (where she could walk outside) or the gym. She says driving even somewhere close requires such focus that she is exhausted for the rest of the day. She doesn't want to be picked up and driven to the gym. She won't do anything involving a pool, ever, end of story.
She wants me to find her a treadmill, budget <$200. I'm concerned that she may hurt herself using it. She falls pretty regularly and isn't super stable on her feet. She uses a cane. I've read about geriatric use of treadmills and understand the most important thing is making sure it has a "true zero" belt speed, and I've ordered Strong Women Stay Young, per a previous thread...
But does anyone have any wisdom on whether this is a bad move, or have any other in-house suggestions as to things she may be able to do to be more active without driving?
I'm concerned that she may hurt herself using it. She falls pretty regularly and isn't super stable on her feet. She uses a cane.
I wouldn't recommend a treadmill for your grandma. If she has any stability issues, it will be very dangerous for her. Why not spend a bit of that money and get an in-house physical therapist to come to her house and help her set up an exercise regimen that suits her situation? Barring that, I would also recommend a walker (even though she's likely to hate the idea). It will allow her to walk farther with less risk of injury than any other option. She can walk around the house and build up strength in her legs before deciding what else she wants to do. I really recommend that you stay away from any motorized exercise devices for her.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:04 PM on September 13, 2009
I wouldn't recommend a treadmill for your grandma. If she has any stability issues, it will be very dangerous for her. Why not spend a bit of that money and get an in-house physical therapist to come to her house and help her set up an exercise regimen that suits her situation? Barring that, I would also recommend a walker (even though she's likely to hate the idea). It will allow her to walk farther with less risk of injury than any other option. She can walk around the house and build up strength in her legs before deciding what else she wants to do. I really recommend that you stay away from any motorized exercise devices for her.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:04 PM on September 13, 2009
You said she's in physical therapy... Have you or her asked her therapist for advice on this topic?
I'd lean toward saying treadmills are bad myself, but a physical therapy doctor who has seen her regularly would have far better advice than any of us here.
posted by mmoncur at 11:22 PM on September 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
I'd lean toward saying treadmills are bad myself, but a physical therapy doctor who has seen her regularly would have far better advice than any of us here.
posted by mmoncur at 11:22 PM on September 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
They do also use bikes for physical therapy, (a friend broke his leg and dislocated his knee and he was doing physical theory on a bike, though that was supervised therapy)
posted by Lesium at 11:36 PM on September 13, 2009
posted by Lesium at 11:36 PM on September 13, 2009
I just get sore knees sometimes and found that in the long run, a recumbent stationary bike was way easier on me than a treadmill. If I, in my mid-20s, didn't feel coordinated enough to feel totally safe on a treadmill, I'd lean towards saying it wouldn't be a good thing for someone of that age with mobility problems.
That said, my recumbent stationary bike was well under $200, had free shipping, and was not only quiet enough I could comfortably watch television while using it, I actually used to knit while on the bike. Check with her PT, but it could be a very good option.
posted by larkspur at 12:51 AM on September 14, 2009
That said, my recumbent stationary bike was well under $200, had free shipping, and was not only quiet enough I could comfortably watch television while using it, I actually used to knit while on the bike. Check with her PT, but it could be a very good option.
posted by larkspur at 12:51 AM on September 14, 2009
Best answer: Just spent a fair amount of time looking at assisted living places for my 91 year old mother-in-law. None of them had treadmills because they are particularly dangerous for older people with iffy balance. I have a 50 year old friend who broke her leg badly when she fell on one. I think the idea of a PT working with her to set up a good, safe home workout makes a lot of sense. Getting her a stationary bike, especially a recumbent one also sounds like a good idea for both movement and cardio.
posted by leslies at 4:57 AM on September 14, 2009
posted by leslies at 4:57 AM on September 14, 2009
This sounds dumb, but my grandmother had very similar issues, and she took walks... around the house. I mean, inside the house. It was a pretty small house, but I have vivid memories from when I was a kid of going to visit her and her taking me "for our daily walk" which consisted of 30 minutes of walking through every room and up and down the stairs multiple times. It's monotonous, but for this particular issue (versus the one of how to get your grandma out of the house to have fun and socialize) it works quite well.
I'm not an expert but I think a recumbent bike or any kind of cardio machine would be foolish for someone who is just trying to regain mobility -- if she can walk, and wants to be able to walk more and better, she should walk.
posted by telegraph at 5:48 AM on September 14, 2009
I'm not an expert but I think a recumbent bike or any kind of cardio machine would be foolish for someone who is just trying to regain mobility -- if she can walk, and wants to be able to walk more and better, she should walk.
posted by telegraph at 5:48 AM on September 14, 2009
In my opinion I think a treadmill is a very bad idea. My grandmother was an avid walker and had one to use in the winter when walking outside wasn't an option. One day she got confused and turned the speed all the way up and was sent flying. On newer treadmills this is less likely to happen, however, they keep moving when you stop and for someone that doesn't have super fast reflexes this could be a problem.
She is now unable to walk outside even in the summer do to really rough sidewalks and streets around her home. She is also using a walker do to some balance trouble. We got her a bike and she loves it. She is able to use it whenever she wants and we don't have to worry about her getting hurt. I would however recommend, if you go this route, to find one that is super easy to on and off without having to lift her leg over the center bar. Something like a recumbent bike.
However, I will second telegraph in saying that a walk around the house, even a small house is a great idea. My grandmother uses the bike for times when she would like a more brisk work out.
Good luck.
posted by emmysue01 at 8:05 AM on September 14, 2009
She is now unable to walk outside even in the summer do to really rough sidewalks and streets around her home. She is also using a walker do to some balance trouble. We got her a bike and she loves it. She is able to use it whenever she wants and we don't have to worry about her getting hurt. I would however recommend, if you go this route, to find one that is super easy to on and off without having to lift her leg over the center bar. Something like a recumbent bike.
However, I will second telegraph in saying that a walk around the house, even a small house is a great idea. My grandmother uses the bike for times when she would like a more brisk work out.
Good luck.
posted by emmysue01 at 8:05 AM on September 14, 2009
A treadmill is a great piece of equipment, but I think you're right to be concerned about her injuring herself or falling. I think ellipticals are easier on the joints, but getting on and off the elliptical takes some balance and is even tricky for me, a spry, though occasionally clumsy, 31 year old. It seems the consensus is that a bike is the way to go, so suggest this to her instead. She may be resistant if she thinks of walking as a pleasant activity, but biking as work. If that's the case, I would stress that it's safer, and perhaps mention she can read while she bikes, something I have never been able to manage on the elliptical or treadmill. Good luck!
posted by katemcd at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2009
posted by katemcd at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2009
nthing the idea of walking in the house. You can make it a bit more interesting if you make up some games -
walk to each room and touch something that starts with the letter G or something blue.
get a pedometer and track steps, then use a map to mark off her virtual distance each day, with a specific goal in mind. There are websites that do this; if she uses a computer this could be a way to share the activity with you long-distance.
does part of her house form a circular path? My house has 2 entries in the kitchen, which lead to living/dining rooms which are then connected together. Pretend it's a racetrack and go around X times.
some videos are just for walking - Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds, and Richard Simmons Sweatin to the Oldies come to mind.
Put on some music and walk to it - Sousa marches for walking, or her favorite music.
posted by CathyG at 9:45 AM on September 14, 2009
walk to each room and touch something that starts with the letter G or something blue.
get a pedometer and track steps, then use a map to mark off her virtual distance each day, with a specific goal in mind. There are websites that do this; if she uses a computer this could be a way to share the activity with you long-distance.
does part of her house form a circular path? My house has 2 entries in the kitchen, which lead to living/dining rooms which are then connected together. Pretend it's a racetrack and go around X times.
some videos are just for walking - Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds, and Richard Simmons Sweatin to the Oldies come to mind.
Put on some music and walk to it - Sousa marches for walking, or her favorite music.
posted by CathyG at 9:45 AM on September 14, 2009
My mom's a PT and she says elderly people can get pretty good exercise just walking up and down the stairs.
posted by exhilaration at 12:45 PM on September 14, 2009
posted by exhilaration at 12:45 PM on September 14, 2009
Treadmills can be exceptionally dangerous for the brittle-boned set. As a paramedic I've seen several treadmill injuries over the years. The most recent was a fairly active late-60s woman who lost her balance and was thrown from her treadmill. She ended up with a particularly nasty mid-shaft humerus fracture.
posted by insyte at 2:13 PM on September 14, 2009
posted by insyte at 2:13 PM on September 14, 2009
I just took care of a very active, healthy woman of your grandmother's age who slipped off a treadmill and broke her humerus, wrist, and a bone in her finger.
Most women of that age have some degree of osteopenia from calcium loss and have pretty fragile bones.
Not recommended.
posted by gramcracker at 5:28 AM on September 15, 2009
Most women of that age have some degree of osteopenia from calcium loss and have pretty fragile bones.
Not recommended.
posted by gramcracker at 5:28 AM on September 15, 2009
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posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:37 PM on September 13, 2009