Dystonia and Swimming Exercises with Tom Seaman
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- Опубліковано 26 лип 2015
- Tom Seaman, author of the book, Diagnosis Dystonia: Navigating the Journey, demonstrates swimming exercises to help build strength and stamina. He also discusses the importance of adding fun activities to your life to offset the negative effects of living with a chronic health condition.
To learn more about Tom and get a copy of his book, please visit: www.tomseamancoaching.com/
To learn more about Tom's health coaching services, please visit: www.tomseamancoaching.com/
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• Dystonia and Swimming ...
#selfcare #chronicpain #chronicillness #health #fitness #lifestyle #depression #anxiety #dystonia #hope #nevergiveup #wellness #nutrition #mindfulness
I’m a lifelong swimmer with generalized dystonia. I have used all of these same techniques for pain relief and it has helped me so much. Just bobbing in the water on a really hard day can be so therapeutic, physically and emotionally. And the repetitive movements can pair well with meditation. That weightless feeling is second to none. Thank you for drawing attention to the benefits of water for us. Maybe one day, with enough awareness, insurance companies will cover our pool memberships.
I'm so glad you also find water to be so therapeutic. I hope more people take advantage of this wonderful resources that can be so healing.
Thanks Tom. I agree warm water is important. I have been building up hydrotherapy/ swimming for almost three years. It's really helped me. I also do cycling movements with my legs from the side and "marching" in the water with feet on floor. Plus walking taking strides to the side facing the side. Thanks for all you do raising awareness of dystonia!
That is so great to hear! I have recently begun doing similar movements! It is so much better for me in the water and so much easier to do. I am so happy you are finding the same!
Thank you Tom for sharing this video.
You're welcome :)
Really good video Tom! I too have neck Dystonia, since 1996. I too used to be as contorted as you did and now, I look as 'normal' as you do too. Like you, swimming has been my healer. I swim 3-4 times a week and have done since 2002. It has in effect, enabled me to retrain my muscles and over ride contorted movements. Like you, I started with backstroke. These days, I am able to swim 1 mile of front crawl each time I go. That's an amount I would never have thought possible all those years ago. Thanks for explaining this so well, and your other videos. I hope they are of help to others and I am about to share with my local Dystonia group. Thank you!
Melanie Hobday Thank you Melanie! To know that you have improved to where you are now able to swim a mile of front crawl gives me even greater hope than I can continue to increase the amount of activities I can do in a pool, as well as even swim again without having to modify my strokes. I look forward to those days! Thank you for sharing and I am so happy that you have improved so much! It is a true testament to how hard work and perseverance pays off. Way to go and thank you again!
Tom Seaman Perseverance certainly does pay off :) I've found gentle yoga and mindfulness are superb healers too. I've ordered your book Tom! I've also posted a link to your video on the official UK Dystonia Society facebook page. Can't wait to read your book!
Melanie Hobday Gentle yoga is something I will be adding to my regimen soon. Any suggestions? I like variety and need more to do in the winter, especially when the pool is frozen : ) Thanks for sharing on the UK Dystonia Society page. Your book shipped out yesterday. I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thank you again!
So GREAT Tom
Thank you very much!
I ALWAYS urge people into the pool for therapy! Excellent!
+Sherryl Klingelhofer Thank you Sherryl. I love the pool for so many things! I've watched many of your videos and enjoy them very much. You do a very nice job explaining things and providing helpful information for Parkinson's and other movement disorders. Thank you!
+Tom Seaman congrats on the MJFox nod!!!!
+Sherryl Klingelhofer Thank you!! So grateful to be on their list of resources. I was very excited to get the news on that one!!
Hey there Tom! Thank you so much for the work you've put into your channel. You've become my 'go-to' man for things to positively work through my CD. Also, I'm not sure if you remember me but it's Selina from face book. I followed your link here a while back, but again, wanted to say hi and thank you!
Mama Grizzly Hi Selina! Great to hear from you and thanks very much for taking the time to share your comments with me! When I hear that I have been of help to someone it makes my day! Keep up the good fight, stay positive, and reach out anytime if you ever need a boost! Thanks again!
Thank you for this video. I will look for a pool and look into getting your book. When I first looked at your video I wondered if you were getting botox. I have been getting botox and made a decision to try going without it, however, I am spazzing way. You look great.
Thank you. Be sure the pool has warm water so you don't shock your system. I do not get Botox. It never helped much. I'm sorry you are struggling without it. If it helped me more, I would get it. I hope you enjoy my book. It has a lot of helpful info for dealing with all aspects of dystonia.
I have come up with octopus backstroke by myself. I wanted as well to keep my hands below my neck and was trying to stretch my head and keep it straight. It's very relaxing style. Often imaging while swimming that I am octopus or jellyfish. 😊
That's great. Thanks for sharing the ideas!
Using a snorkel can be great for face down swimming without having to lift or rotate the head to breathe
Thank you. That's a great tip. I have heard of others doing this and have yet to try it, but come next summer I sure will!
Thank you! Fighting the fight with Spasmodic Torticollis/ Cervical Dystonia since 2007. Does a strict anti-inflammatory diet make a difference?
For some people a strict diet can be helpful where they can see a direct cause and effect relationship, For me, I adhere to an anti-inflammatory diet for overall health promotion, with the added benefit of it helping (as one of many puzzle pieces) with my symptoms. Personally, I would avoid all stimulants like caffeine, as well as sugar and flour products, and refined omega-6 oils
Hi Tom ,i have been diagnosed having dystonia (right torticollis)however now i can put my neck straight while sittiing but not so while walking ,can u advice any exercise on this
HI Haritha- I am sorry about your diagnosis. It is hard for me to offer any advice without knowing how your symptoms manifest and what might be causing the trouble when walking, so I am unable to give any exercises. I encourage you to look into a program by Dr. Farias. His website is www.fariastechnique.com. Please also consult my book which is on Amazon or www.diagnosisdystonia.com. It is called, Diagnosis Dystonia: Navigating the Journey
Hi, I can move quite well in water, and I am very comfortable in it as I was always in the pool when I was younger. my question is that if I do some lengths , say 10, I feel fine while doing it and afterwards. but the next day my neck will be stuck to the left and it is very hard to move it. after three days of being stuck to the left and me resting, it comes right again (meaning my normal twisted posture). why is my neck behaving like this? thanks s
I am not sure because how our symptoms manifest and what triggers them to do so differs from person to person. My guess would be that you feel good when swimming because movement is great for dystonia. It also activates mechanoreceptors which can reduce pain. Other things are activated with movements we enjoy such as endorphin, dopamine, and serotonin (and probably others I am unaware of). Sometimes different movements remind the body what is normal; thus the reduction in symptoms. However, sometimes too much a good thing causes a kickback because the motor programming for dystonia is very powerful and if we do too much, it can cause the symptoms to come back stronger because we "anger" the dystonia. This being the case, if it is the case, I would reduce the amount of laps you swim and see what kind of a response your body has. I wish I could give a better, more definitive answer, but it is hard to know without your history or seeing your symptoms. The part that I am confused about is why it it gets stuck to the left and then goes back to being twisted on the right. I have not before heard of anyone who has had an increase in symptoms to the opposite side that is most often affected, and then to have it switch back.
I believe you are doing too much, personally. According to my dystonia program you have to be very gentle and start slow, adding new things one at a time. I'm doing gentle neck exercises within my range of motion, never forcing past it, and breathing exercises, eye exercises, and relaxation exercises and I've only started 2 months ago. I have to build this foundation before even going into a pool so one thing builds upon the other, and this progression is for everyone, but at a snail's pace. Like 15 mins. each to help balance the brain hemispheres.
Thank you. I'm doing some pool work now. When you do the leg kick on the side of the pool, are you holding on to something? I can't tell what your hands are doing? Thanks.
Hi Adam. When doing the leg kicks on the side of the pool there is a ledge/seat about a foot under the water that I am resting on.
Great. The pool I'm using doesn't have that so I may have to hold on to the top.
You can also try holding onto a ladder or stairs. I rest my elbow on the ledge or on the stairs going in and out of the pool.
Thanks, Tom! I'll check it out.
Is the point of this part to flatten your neck against the side of the pool? Thanks.
Try neuroplasticity training. The progression starts from even before getting to this point of being in a pool. I can't even do this for another couple of months. Success happens by going very slowly to train the brain to balance and allow neurological firing of the muscles to normalize little by little.
Thank you. I have been doing neuroplasticity training for years and also include a section about it in my dystonia book.
Christine Czyryca would you please explain your methods of neuroplasticity training?
I have dystonic cerebral palsy and I also use fitness to help, in fact I have a fitness channel myself, it has the exercises I do plus lots of other health tips! This is a great channel and I would love it if you could take a look at mine.
LIVE IT, LOVE IT, DREAM IT, ACHIEVE IT
Katt Ryan Thank you Katt! I will definitely have a look. I have a good friend living with cerebral palsy and the gym is his sanctuary. He has turned his life around with weightlifting and other exercises. Congratulations to you for all your efforts!!
Tom Seaman thanks very much, Same to you
This is me
Hello Tom!
Thank you for your video, i have live with neck Dystopia sinne 2006 until now. However, i have been many hospitals ,drs and also i get 7 times patokinjectio,but not help at all. After many years serviving with neck dystonia, now i can walk normal. I wish if you could give More advice.
Best reagards,
Hawa