Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: As a medical professor, the decision-making process for designing exercise plans for patients goes beyond physical activity. It must be considered how the patient presents physically and mentally, the equipment or resources at their disposal, and the patient’s personal history of being physically active.
Answer: Given the patient’s weight, joint pain, and gait abnormalities, walking in water is a better exercise option. Water provides buoyancy, which reduces impact stress on the joints and provides resistance for building muscle strength. Additionally, water submersion reduces the patient’s weight-bearing, which is advantageous for patients with these types of morbidities. Cycling may be a good exercise option for cardiovascular fitness, but it does not provide the benefits of joint support and therapy that walking in water does.
A sample 5 day walking-in-water program could include:
Day 1: Walking forward and backward in waist-deep water for 10-20 minutes
Day 2: Walking sideways with hands at the hips for 10-20 minutes
Day 3: Walking with high-stepping motions in thigh-deep water, alternating legs for 10-20 minutes
Day 4: Walking in a figure-eight in waist-deep water with hands against the chest for 10-20 minutes
Day 5: Walking with high steps and knee raises in thigh-deep water for 10-20 minutes
A sample 5 day cycling program could include:
Day 1: 10-15 minute warm-up on a stationary bike, followed by 20 minutes of alternating 1 minute of high intensity with 1 minute of slow recovery
Day 2: 10-15 minute warm-up on a stationary bike, followed by a 30 minute easy ride
Day 3: 10-15 minute warm-up on a stationary bike, followed by 20 minutes of steady-state intensity
Day 4: 10-15 minute warm-up on a stationary bike, followed by 15 minutes of interval training with varying speeds and resistance levels
Day 5: 10-15 minute warm-up on a stationary bike, followed by a 40 minute easy ride
Other forms of exercise like running or weightlifting may be too intense or high impact for the patient. Weightlifting may also require additional joint support and equipment.