Hydrotherapy Ankle Class Session 3

Another week has passed on my journey to recovery.  I have walked lots this week, I'm not talking marathons,but I have been out shopping and when we went out for tea I walked from the car to the restaurant.  Yesterday I drove to the supermarket, it was the first time I had been out in the car on my own for 18 weeks, I was scared but I had to do it, not least because I hadn't got my mum anything for Mother's Day (I am such a bad daughter)!

I am definitely moving more fluidly than I was before I started 'Aqua for Cripples', The limping is only apparent if I try to walk too quickly or if I have been at it for a while.  Regarding pain I have good and bad days but definitely more good than bad now.  I am still using Doris but only because I can't go downstairs without her, I am getting better at it but, I still feel like I am swinging down instead of stepping. I can at least get up stairs with just the rail now .

I have set myself a target to move home on 15 April, this coincidentally happens to be the same day that my other half's parents are planning on returning to France after taking over my house for what will be three months.  I love them and all but I want to move back to experience normality not to feel like an intruder in my own home.

So back to today's class, today's exercises were;

Warm Up

Walk or swim up and down the pool.

Exercise 1

A). At the edge of the pool rise up onto the toes and down (repeat 10 times)
B). At the edge of the pool rise up onto the toes and down and onto the heels (repeat 10 times)

Exercise 2
A).Stand on one leg, cross your other leg over the first leg and touch the pool floor with the outer edge of your foot, repeat with the other leg (repeat 10 times).
B).Stand with your feet slightly apart and shift your weight from one foot to the other putting your weight as far over on your foot as you can do comfortably.

Circuit Training

1). Square kick Float

A).Place float under foot and step to the front with second foot, back to the centre and then behind.
B). Step to the side with one foot then the other.
C).Repeat with opposite foot.
(Repeat for 2 - 5 mins)

2). Small inflatable ring

Place your injured foot in the hole of a small inflatable hoop, push it down in the water and then lift it up using your leg. (Repeat for 2 - 5 minutes)






3). Penny floater/foam football

Put the ball between your legs and rise onto your toes, return to your flat feet and then sqaut down. (Repeat for 2-5 minutes)

4). Flipper

Put a flipper on your injured foot and standing at the edge of the pool slowly lift your leg up and then down in the water, lift your leg as high as you can comfortably before returning.

5). Woggle or Noodle

Sit on the Noodle and float in the pool using your legs like you are cycling.
(continue for 2 - 5 minutes)





6). Move a none floating ball around the bottom pool with your good foot while standing on your injured foot, try to keep control of the ball.