Will a gym allow you to workout while on crutches?

[ndj101982]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I broke my ankle about two weeks ago. After seeing an orthopaedic specialist they took me out of a walking boot and placed me into a hard cast. I am on crutches for at least the next 4 weeks and I'm going insane. I'm doing push-ups, one-leg bodyweight squats, and crunches on a daily basis at home to try and burn calories and keep my body from losing muscle mass due to being sedentary. I am going crazy from being in the house 24/7 most days (aside from the couple hours 3 days a week that I go to class and then return home) because I can't drive with a broken right ankle and I just need to get out.

I was hoping to go to the gym and use some of the upper-body machines, but I'm not sure if they will allow me to workout while on crutches without a note from my doctor (which there is no chance he is going to let me workout since he told me to rest and do nothing). Has anyone else on here ever been on crutches and gone to a gym, or do you know if a gym will even allow me to workout while on cruches and in a cast? My next best option is that I have an old Bowflex in my basement, but I just really want to get out of the house, even if it means going to the gym.

 

[TropicThunder]

I would suggest following your doctors orders. If you need to just 'get out' why not just try going out for a walk on your crutches? You get outta the house, without over exerting your body.

But I'm not an expert, just my personal opinion.

 

[LD_Tickler]

Why don't you call your gym and ask?

 

[unclebill]

It depends on the gym. Three different women are hobbling around in walking casts with various foot and ankle breaks that I know of in my gym, and the ownership is cool with it. Being on crutches may be an issue. All you can do is ask the manager. Good luck.🙂

 

[ndj101982]

I would suggest following your doctors orders. If you need to just 'get out' why not just try going out for a walk on your crutches? You get outta the house, without over exerting your body.

But I'm not an expert, just my personal opinion.

I'd glady go for a walk if there weren't 2 feet of snow on every sidewalk and lawn 😛

 

[ndj101982]

Why don't you call your gym and ask?

I figure if I call they are just gonna say "not without a doctor's note" because it's very likely that it's a liability if they permit me to workout and I get hurt (even though I wouldn't sue them if it was my choice to workout, but they can't rely on my word). I figured my best chance would be to just walk in and hope they don't make anything out of it, but it would be kind of embarassing being asked to leave. Also, I'd ask for a doctor's note except there is no way in hell he is gonna give me permission to work out because if I get injured it my doctor's ass.

Basically I'm probably gonna just stick to the push-ups and maybe the Bowflex . My biggest worry is gaining weight, not so much losing muscle. I figured that if I could at least do some high reps on weight machines I could burn calories.

 

[TropicThunder]

You're only going to be on crutches for four weeks though? Unless you're binge eating and sitting around, you're not going to gain much weight at all. You're definitely not going to start losing muscle mass in such a short time too.

 

[ndj101982]

You're only going to be on crutches for four weeks though? Unless you're binge eating and sitting around, you're not going to gain much weight at all. You're definitely not going to start losing muscle mass in such a short time too.

Well it's crutches for 4 weeks, then probably even longer because my doctor is going to allow to start putting moderate pressure on my foot with a walking boot at that point. It will likely be physical therapy after that. Chances are I won't be doing cardio again until april.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

At the end of the day, no one here is going to be able to give you a definitive answer. Either call your gym and get one, or go and hope for the best.

For what it's worth, my brother tore his ACL and still went to the gym to do upperbody. He didn't have a problem.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

I'd glady go for a walk if there weren't 2 feet of snow on every sidewalk and lawn 😛

You could always go walk around the mall, grocery store or Walmart.

 

[ndj101982]

You could always go walk around the mall, grocery store or Walmart.

I'd do that to but I need someone to drive me cuz it's my right ankle that is broken. I don't like to inconvenience people so I only go to stores if someone is going with me because I can't carry anything while I'm holding my crutches. Basically it sucks pretty badly for me at the moment. Too much snow and ice to go outside and get some fresh air and exercise, and can't even drive out to get a coffee or food unless someone else can take me. My friends do nothing but sit at the bar and drink (which I can't really do because I need to keep my leg elevated as much as I can) and I don't need to be buzzin while I'm trying to walk on crutches so I haven't even seen them since the incident.

You say your brother could go to the gym and workout when he was hurt so that does provide some hope. I was kind of hoping maybe someone on here had the same experience and either worked out at a gym without anyone telling them no, or maybe someone on here works at a gym and could possibly let me know what the policy is on that. I googled the question but it wasn't specific enough to get a solid answer on there.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

I'd do that to but I need someone to drive me cuz it's my right ankle that is broken. I don't like to inconvenience people so I only go to stores if someone is going with me because I can't carry anything while I'm holding my crutches. Basically it sucks pretty badly for me at the moment. Too much snow and ice to go outside and get some fresh air and exercise, and can't even drive out to get a coffee or food unless someone else can take me. My friends do nothing but sit at the bar and drink (which I can't really do because I need to keep my leg elevated as much as I can) and I don't need to be buzzin while I'm trying to walk on crutches so I haven't even seen them since the incident.

So...how do you plan to get to the gym? If you're going to inconvenience someone to drive you to the gym, you can just as well inconvenience them to drive you to the mall. You don't have to actually buy anything and carry any bags. Just walk around, get the exercise you're saying you want.

Focusing on all the negatives isn't going to help you make any progress. If you just think about how being in this position has made your life so much harder and feel bad for yourself, you're just going to continue to be unhappy.

You say your brother could go to the gym and workout when he was hurt so that does provide some hope. I was kind of hoping maybe someone on here had the same experience and either worked out at a gym without anyone telling them no...

Isn't that what I just gave you?

or maybe someone on here works at a gym and could possibly let me know what the policy is on that. I googled the question but it wasn't specific enough to get a solid answer on there.

That's because Google doesn't work at your gym, nor does anyone here. It's been said several times - call. your. gym. They're the ones who can help you. It's not like you have this question that is unknown to the universe. You have the means to get your answer. I don't understand what you're still doing here besides maybe trying to get a little sympathy for your situation.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

If you got a problem with me or my post, I suggest you just simply not bother getting involved with the post altogether.

I don't have a problem. I'm offering you what I believed to be helpful suggestions and honest feedback. I assumed that's what you were looking for. Didn't mean to offend.

 

[miskiduk]

Why not just walk around everywhere on your hands until your legs are better?