Qualified exercise therapist.

[dddave]

I'm 40 lbs overweight and my BP is way beyond where it should be; obviously I need a change of diet and need to loose weight.

In the past when I have had to loose weight, walking was my exercise of choice and it usually worked well. Unfortunately, walking any significant distance is not an option for me any more as I have Arthritic knees.

I need to develop an effective home exercise program that is strenuous enough to make a difference yet spares my knees.

I'd like to start with a qualified exercise therapist who can help me design a program with my limitations in mind.

Can anybody suggest where in Bangkok I might find such a person. I know there are a lot of people around calling themselves "Personal Trainers" but I'm skeptical of the depth of their knowledge when it comes to situations such as mine.

Suggestions appreciated. I live in the Phra Khanong area if that is a factor in any recommendations.

[TerryLH]

Any university with a medical faculty probably also has a physical therapy program.

You should be able to find a 4th year student who could help you out.

Or a recent graduate, if you don't feel comfortable with a student.

[papa al]

If you can tolerate a stationary bike, that would be a good start.

Depends on the nature of you arthritis too...Rheumatoid- or [more likely] Osteo-.

Mini squats.

Hit the upper body exercises hard.

Jogging in waist deep water might help.

If you lose weight, walking will get easier.

Walking will make losing weight a little easier....a virtuous cycle.

A good PT could help, but there are a lot of PTs that aren't so good.

Recent grad...? Maybe better luck with an old hand.

For weight loss diet is 80%; exercise 20%.

Cut the crap out of you diet.

You know what I mean: sweets & fried food to start.

You can do it!

Edited June 12, 2014 by papa al

[h90]

If you can tolerate a stationary bike, that would be a good start.

Depends on the nature of you arthritis too...Rheumatoid- or [more likely] Osteo-.

Mini squats.

Hit the upper body exercises hard.

Jogging in waist deep water might help.

If you lose weight, walking will get easier.

Walking will make losing weight a little easier....a virtuous cycle.

A good PT could help, but there are a lot of PTs that aren't so good.

Recent grad...? Maybe better luck with an old hand.

For weight loss diet is 80%; exercise 20%.

Cut the crap out of you diet.

You know what I mean: sweets & fried food to start.

You can do it!

just to add: often swimming is a good alternative if joints make problems.

Even without a real diet: cut out sweets and heavy processed food is a first good step. Maybe a good beginning even before someone make his mind how to proceed (low carbs or more training, or less fat, etc etc)

[Sheryl]

In my experience the quality of Thai physios is limited especially when it comes to independently developing a therapeutic plan. They usually expect a doctor to specify the desired exercises.

There are a number of Western sports trainer/physio types around, quality varies all over the place (some are self-proclaimed with no real training) but some do know their stuff. I've sent you a PM with details of one I can personally recommend.

[papa al]

If rheumatoid arthritis [inflammatory] is the problem, then identifying and eliminating the agent(s) responsible may be useful.

Possibilities include:

--plants in the nightshade group [tobacco, potato, tomato, peppers, eggplant],

--wheat and other 'glutenous' grains,

--dairy products.

Trial and error is an effective approach:

Eliminate the food type for maybe a week or so, and if symptoms remit, good.

Then eat a bunch of it.

If symptoms flair, you are likely sensitive to that food type.

No rocket science here folks.

Various autoimmune maladies (MS, lupus, psoriasis, etc., etc.) may respond to this approach.

You MD is likely unaware or dismissive of this type of 'therapy.'

She may embrace a 'treat the symptoms with pharmaceuticals' paradigm.

MDs consider chronic condition incurable, by their very nature, but maybe it ain't so.

Eat nutricious food; avoid poisoning yourself.

Pretty radical thinking, I know.

Good health to ya....

Edited June 13, 2014 by papa al

[Sheryl]

I suspect he has osteoarthritis, which is very common in people who are overweight and also of course in older people.

Genuine rheumatoid arthritis is not just the same as "inflammatory arthritis" and will not respond to the measures listed. However, there are other inflammatory arthritises which can occur due to drug or other allergies.

[transam]

I suspect he has osteoarthritis, which is very common in people who are overweight and also of course in older people.

Genuine rheumatoid arthritis is not just the same as "inflammatory arthritis" and will not respond to the measures listed. However, there are other inflammatory arthritises which can occur due to drug or other allergies.

Mine came from my families predecessors, Psoriatic Arthritis............ .........Put a stop to my serious weight training....

[papa al]

I suspect he has osteoarthritis, which is very common in people who are overweight and also of course in older people.

Genuine rheumatoid arthritis is not just the same as "inflammatory arthritis" and will not respond to the measures listed. However, there are other inflammatory arthritises which can occur due to drug or other allergies.

According to the NIH site, RA is an inflammatory autoimmune condition, as I indicated.

As I also indicated professionals vested in the MD/pharmaceutical paradigm [like Sheryl?] will dismiss out-of-hand, the notion that autoimmune diseases may respond to dietary modification.

Fortunately, many do respond favorably.

Edited June 13, 2014 by papa al

[Sheryl]

All arthritis is inflammatory, that's what the name means: "joint" (arthr-) inflammation" (-itis).

RA is a very specific type of autoimmune disease, and can affect more than just the joints.

There are other types of (non-osteo) arthritis that can occur and some of these may be allergic in origin or triggered by a hyperactive allergic response. Where so, time and avoidance of the allergan will bring relief. People who claim to have been cured of "rheumatoid arthritis" through diet usually had one of these types and not actual RA.

I have no idea what an "MD/pharmaceuticalparadigm" is and the only thing I am "vested" in is hard science.

[papa al]

By 'MD/pharmaceutical paradigm' I mean the dominant type of practice accepted in the US. MDs supported by PAs, Nurse practitioners, RNs, etc.

MD directed therapies are dominated by the prescription of patent medications, surgical procedures, radiation [vs cancer] and the like.

[My sister-in-law in Ohio is on 65 prescription drugs...65!]

MDs tend to espouse the 'hard science' approach, but in reality are very limited by their prejudices and educational background.

For example, they widely prescribe statin drugs despite large N peer reviewed studies in respected journals showing that statins don't lower the risk of first heart attack, and the adverse side effects are insidious but real...hard science!!

JAMA reports MD directed therapies as the third leading cause of death...hard science.

Natualistic approaches are rejected out-of-hand, despited hard science supporting their efficacy.

I'll stop now as forum rules exist limiting what can be said in criticism of of the status quo.

Edited June 13, 2014 by papa al