Isokinetic Dynamometer
Week 7 November 5th, 2009I am due to see my surgeon soon but need some professional advice on what I should and should not be doing. So I have booked some private consultations with a very highly regarded physio who looks after olympic althetes and does a lot with AT sufferers. I can’t wait especially as my left (so called ‘good’ tendon) is giving me daily grief of aches and pains. She has also promised to have a look at my injury and other leg with a Isokinetic Dynamometer - which measure muscle performance somehow!
Will report back with feedback 
November 5th, 2009 at 14:55
Ooooo! Check you out with your fancy high tech equipment! Good luck with the physio, sounds very impressive. Might want to put in a courtesy call to the bank manager first, eh?
Smoley
November 5th, 2009 at 17:09
Hi Graham
I am 4 weeks post op on Monday. Finally managed to get my surgeon to agree to giving me the Air cast boot. Having it fitted on Monday, can’t to get away from the cruthes.
In week 5 you said yoy were on an excerise bike was that with your docs permission and was it with or without the boot.
Looking forward to hearing how you get on with the physio and what advice you get
Good Luck
Chris
November 5th, 2009 at 19:26
i am really interested in the isokinetic dynamometer experience. can you tell us what did it do, what did it llok like, did it seem legitimate? did they have much experience using it… here in the states isokinetics are starting to catch on, but there are no dynamometers in wide use to my knowledge. if there is something that works it would be so hopeful to hear. thanks for your generosity …o
November 6th, 2009 at 10:25
Hi Graham
Many thanks for all your posts - the info has really helped to spur me on and hope for better things ahead. I am just coming up to end of week 2 post op and waiting to see whether I can go PWB or the whole monty. I too am fed up with crutches and hope to go to the boot (I had one for 2 weeks prior to op to reduce inflammation). I had 40% invasive surgery to my tendon + bone spur removal (hiding behind tendon apparently). Look forward to hearing how the Physio etc goes
Sandie
November 6th, 2009 at 10:40
Thanks for your comments.
The cost of the physio isn’t too bad really and I think if we get to use this fancy machine it will really be worth the money - apparently cost £40k!
Chris - I did and still do the exercise bike every other day but with my boot on. I am not going to do any exercise without the Aircast on until the surgeon clears me. I am seeing him on the 11 November. He hasn’t cleared me to do any exercise apart from stretch the tendon carefully but I have still been doing the bike, leg raises and upper body workouts. All helps the heart rate and makes you feel as normal as possible. Unfortunately its getting a little boring working out at home. The gym cannot come soon enough!!
Otrina - yes I will report back all that I am told (and see!!). This machine is one of the main reasons I am going to this physio, apart from the fact she comes very highly regarded after looking after some top olympic althetes and international rugby players.
Sandie - thanks for that. This blog really makes things a little bit easier with this horrible injury. Until you have had it you really don’t know how bad it is! Most of my friends simply think I will be back 100% fit in a couple of weeks like a sprain or minor break.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:45
You are so right - I had absolutely no idea that I would be this immobile {:O( And the assumption by all is that now I have had the problem fixed - everything is back to normal….. oh how I wish! Even making a cuppa is a prob - I discovered that right away - having made the cuppa - how to get it back to my leg elevated position….needed a third hand.
A question - what is the consensus about returning to work after this awful injury/op?
November 6th, 2009 at 13:16
Listen to your body! If you feel you are ready and you can get there easily then go for it!
November 6th, 2009 at 15:17
Hi Graham,
As I understand it, an isokinetic dynamometer measures strength through the range of motion of a joint while moving at various constant speeds. It might show, for example, that the calf has more strength at the dorsiflexed end of the range of motion, as compared to plantarflexed end. It might also show that a muscle can generate more torque when it is moving slower, compared to when it is moving faster.
It sounds like quite a nice toy! It can track progress and suggest exercises that will work on weaknesses found, but I don’t know if it will show how to make your other tendon feel better.
Doug
November 8th, 2009 at 07:01
graham thank you for the isokinetic dynamometer explanation… helpful indeed, i really look forward to updates about your experiences… as always thank you for sharing, and especially whether you find it to be worth it. we are all quite interested arent we…, o
happy healings, keep us in the loop
December 17th, 2012 at 16:45
I think your blog is getting more and more visitors.”,~-`
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