First Real Leg Day in 1 Year

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

Hey guys,

Tonight will be the first time I train legs seriously in 1 year.

I couldn’t train them for the past year because I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (connective tissue disease). I was prescribed IGF to help build my collagen and I just got the okay from my doctor to start training relatively heavy again. My question is how should I go about this first leg work out? In all honesty I’m not sure I’ll even be able to squat 135 lbs.

                          Thanks
2

[quote]Blawrence1988 wrote:
Hey guys,

Tonight will be the first time I train legs seriously in 1 year.

I couldn’t train them for the past year because I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (connective tissue disease). I was prescribed IGF to help build my collagen and I just got the okay from my doctor to start training relatively heavy again. My question is how should I go about this first leg work out? In all honesty I’m not sure I’ll even be able to squat 135 lbs.

                          Thanks  [/quote]

in my opinion, a few sets of leg curls and bodyweight squats should be fine for the 1st leg workout.

3

So what exactly were you doing for your legs in the past year? Nothing at all? Cardio? You said it would be the first time you can “seriously” train legs. Some can interpret that differently than others, then you say you couldn’t train them. Kind of confusing. Can you clarify this?

4

Have you consulted with a physical therapist at all? There are PTs who specialize in hypermobility disorders who can help you determine what exercises are safe.

For example, it may be that compressive forces are acceptable (leg press) but not traction (knee extension). Are your joints stable enough for single leg exercises? Are you at risk of sublux’ing? Can your hips handle high loads?

A lot of it will depend on what type of E-D you were diagnosed with as well.

5

[quote]Steez wrote:
So what exactly were you doing for your legs in the past year? Nothing at all? Cardio? You said it would be the first time you can “seriously” train legs. Some can interpret that differently than others, then you say you couldn’t train them. Kind of confusing. Can you clarify this?

[/quote]

I used to run D1 track so I’d work out legs often, but i started to develop horrible subluxations in my legs to go along with my lifelong chronic dislocations in my upper body, I finally found a geneticist who specialized in Ehlers Danlos And she diagnosed me with type 3. I took a year off and was prescribed IGF which helped strengthen my collagen and tendons. I went to my orthopedic surgeon and he said i could start slowly working out legs again. I used to squat 315 but lastnight I could barely hit 135 for 10.

6

[quote]Dr. Pangloss wrote:
Have you consulted with a physical therapist at all? There are PTs who specialize in hypermobility disorders who can help you determine what exercises are safe.

For example, it may be that compressive forces are acceptable (leg press) but not traction (knee extension). Are your joints stable enough for single leg exercises? Are you at risk of sublux’ing? Can your hips handle high loads?

A lot of it will depend on what type of E-D you were diagnosed with as well. [/quote]

I’ve been looking for one around me but to no avail. I was diagnosed with type 3. As of right now single leg exercises feel extremely weird (hard to explain) almost like doing pushups on a exercise ball, just not stable.