Postnatal exercise with a broken arm - Peloton app? 🚲

[Iegolass]

I am seven months postpartum and it definitely hasn’t been the easiest mat leave. I broke my arm very soon after giving birth but unfortunately the hospital missed it at the time so I only found out last week it was actually broken. However, having a baby, and a chunky Velcro one at that, means that I’ve never been able to rest it and so it still causes me pain when I do certain movements.

Meanwhile, I have bad lower back pain from sleeping in the C-curl position for seven months (the safest sleep position for co-sleeping, due to aforementioned Velcro baby), I am essentially lying on my side and not moving for so many hours a day which has made me so stiff.

I feel physically broken (and sadly there’s a lot going on mentally too due to family illnesses), but unfortunately, a lot of exercise options are out, due to the arm/shoulder. I can’t swim. I can’t do yoga or Pilates. I definitely can’t do classes with weights etc.

I started to think about an exercise bike. Clearly buying an actual Peloton would be a bonkers idea but I read that the app has a great postnatal programme and I could sign up for this and follow the classes on my iPad while using a generic exercise bike. And I could do it at any time without being tied in to a set time/day, which would be ideal due to the baby. Has anyone done this? Is it a good idea?

The app is great, I have the bike but also do weights and the stretch classes are great
They have mobility classes too which could be good and low impact cardio

A number of friends have suggested aqua aerobics and swimming to me. A faff to change and dry afterwards but I found “swimming” soothing even though it was more doggy paddle or floating on back with gentle sculling.

I just looked on the app. I couldn’t see a postnatal program (might have missed it). There are post natal core and yoga classes though. Not sure if they’d work with your arm issue?

they also do great stretching classes.

Hmm, decisions, decisions!!

I think I would accidentally overdo it while swimming, sadly. And I think getting out of the house at this point is easier said than done, still.

Do you know what exercise you can do?

Everything boobs down, essentially! Nothing that could aggravate the arm/shoulder.

The app has standing core and yoga classes which are the only things I can think of that you could adapt. Most core/barre/weights classes are going to need you to use your arms/shoulders.

it is possible to use the app on any static bike so that should be ok.

there are outdoors walking classes too

just thought actually- there’s an instructor called Logan who lost his arm in an accident. He does some adaptive classes so they may work as an option while you are recovering.

btw there’s normally an offer for a one month free trial. Worth looking to see if it will work for you