I was non weight bearing in a cast, for those who know you loose muscle very quickly and my calf shrank. I remained non weight bearing for 10 weeks, virtually housebound and bored. I can quite easily say that I did a lot of orthopaedic research and found lots of stories on the Internet, all different and whilst I tried to work out how quickly I would recover and regain previous function I could not identify a clear pathway, what I did find was the plethora of rehabilitation equipment available to support recovery.

When my cast was removed I hoped that I would be walking normally, but my aspirations were dashed due to pain, weakness and loss of muscle. I was using 2 crutches initially, and struggled with walking any distance.

I was lucky to have good physiotherapy support and following their advice obtained some equipment from 66fit, the aim being to restore strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. We know that ankles are exposed to many stresses, we often stand for hours daily and when running our ankles are subjected to four times our body weight, therefore we can not ignore the importance of maintaining ankle stability so that we can reduce the risk of injury. The use of this equipment is not only supporting my rehabilitation and recovery but also providing me the the tools I require to reduce the risks of future injury.

One of my initial regimes was regular foam rolling with a hard foam roller, this enabled me to work on my soft tissue by gentle sustained pressure to eliminate pain and restore motion, this helped my muscles recover from the work they were doing. This treatment is supported by the 8cm soft spiky massage balls which I use on my feet to relive muscle tension trigger points. These are really handy and can be transported in your handbag. I even take them into the office and use them during the day to help reduce pain and discomfort.

The 66fit trampoline is sturdy and able to take the pressure off my joints whilst exercising on it, it can be safely used indoors and is easily taken down by removal of the legs, then can be stored flat.  I have found that this not only supports my ankle recovery but is assisting with my cardiovascular health as I would be unable to run without it flexibility and cushioning. The spring protector fully covers the springs hooks and frame and provides protection from any injury.

The balance pods are made from plastic and are of good quality, I did order 1 set but should have got 2 to assist with balance pod walking vary the instability level. They are really easy to move and store, versatile and great to use for any fitness level. They have a sticky surface and best used on hard floors such as vinyl or wood.

The 66fit balance core trainer assists in improving proprioception, it’s  easy to inflate and to date has not required any additional air. This has helped me improve my ankle stability and function by challenging my ankle on an unstable surface with the aim of developing better ankle control. This is not only useful for post injury but also we know that ankle stability is important for everyday functions and training it can reduce the risk of injury. The balance core trainer can be used on either side and there are many exercises you can do on it, the dome remains inflated but if any air loss noted it’s easy to reintroduce. The unstable surface forces your ankle to work the whole time your standing on it.

There is a wide range of rehabilitation equipment available from 66fit, the equipment is good value for money and of high quality.

Functionally I’m improving and using the equipment daily, without it I would not be progressing as quickly as I am. For those who have had injuries having the correct equipment at home supports recovery.

Background

Although I’m not sure who invented the kettlebell, research suggests it was either someone in Russia, the military or both! Either way, I’m just glad someone invented them as I use kettlebells a lot in my fitness training. Kettlebells are used for power training that combine cardiovascular, strength and flexibility.

Unlike traditional dumbbells, the kettlebell’s center of mass is extended beyond the hand. This facilitates ballistic and swinging movements. Variants of the kettlebell include bags filled with sand or steel shot, water, or which take a variable number of plates. Kettlebells also allow for swing movements and release moves with added safety and added grip, wrist, arm and core strengthening due to the shifting fill material.

Exercise

Kettlebell exercises build endurance and strength, in particularly the lower back, shoulders and legs. The movements used in kettlebell exercise can be dangerous to those who have back or shoulder problems. However, if done properly they can also be very beneficial to health. They offer improved mobility, range of motion and increased strength.The basic movements, such as the swing, snatch, and the clean and jerk, engage the entire body at once and in a way that mimics real activities such as farm work or shoveling. Kettlebell exercises are in their nature holistic, therefore they work several muscles simultaneously and may be repeated continuously for several minutes or with short breaks.

Calories

I remember ages ago reading in a magazine that kettlebell training burnt off a ridiculous amount calories. Before I looked any further I decided to research it a bit more and I came across an article by ACE (The American Council on Exercise). These are a well respected fitness research and certifying body in the United States. Their study on the calorie burn of kettlebell training was simply astonishing!

Dr. John Porcari, leader of the study, said “So they were burning at least 20.2 calories per minute, which is off the charts. That’s equivalent to running a 6-minute mile pace. The only other thing I could find that burns that many calories is crosscountry skiing up hill at a fast pace.”

That’s 1200 calories per hour!

Benefits

I’ve already mentioned above about the amount of calories kettlebell training burns but what other benefits do they offer?

I do loads of training at home and kettlebells are perfect for this as they don’t take up much room. You can do so much with just a set of three or four kettlebells and costing half the price of some dumbbells. They’re also a great piece of exercise equipment for busy people, meaning they combine cardio and strength training together thus saving you time. I also found that my posture was much better after training with kettlebells.

Kettlebells are enjoyable, fun, versatile and easy to learn. I’ve included a banner below should you wish to look at some prices. Give the kettlebell a shot and let us know what you think.

Thanks,