Fall Into Biking

Getting in shape is like riding a bicycle. No, really, it's like riding a bicycle.

Biking is a low-impact exercise, and it's often good for those whose knees may prevent them from running. Plus, it's a chance to burn calories while seeing the great outdoors - a 150-pound person biking at 13.9 mph can burn 264 calories in 30 minutes.

Whether you are a novice or an experienced bike rider, two events in the fall have a bike ride for you. The first is on Sunday, as One Less Car presents their 17th Annual Tour du Port, where participants travel through Baltimore's historic neighborhoods, waterfront areas and scenic parks. One Less Car is a non-profit organization dedicated to walking, bicycling and mass transit alternatives. Register here.

The next bike event is the Save-A-Limb Bike Ride on Sunday, October 17 at Oregon Ridge Park. Options for riders are either a 60-mile, 30-mile, 15-mile and 6-mile family ride. Proceeds benefit the Save-A-Limb Fund, which assists those with limb or joint deformities. If you don't want to bike but still want to help, volunteers are needed.

You can see more bike events in 2010 in Maryland at the Oxon Hill Bike and Trail Club site here.

Finding New Outlets for Training

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today we hear from rider Randy Reisfeld.

So, much has gone on since my last blog, but unfortunately not in the area of progressing my training! After really finding that I enjoyed the spin class, and was increasing my endurance, I was told that this type of exercise was not helping, and probably contributing to my increase in migraines. Besides an increase in my migraines, and an increase in their intensity (I was back to daily headaches), I also began to have bouts of vertigo.

None of this is good when you are planning on riding a bicycle.

So I needed to redirect my efforts in exercise. I have been able to do some swimming off and on over the past month, but have tried to give my body a rest. I have been focusing on trying to resolve the headache situation with weekly acupuncture, and had a couple of massages focusing on my head, neck and shoulders.

I am still hoping to participate in Save-A-Limb, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do one of the long ones.

I am trying not to look at this as another failure of trying to “get in shape. I accomplished something new and I feel good that I was actually able to do a more intensive exercise than I thought I could. I even enjoyed it! However, I know that it’s more important for me at this time to focus on getting these migraines under control, as it does influence how I am able to function on a day-to-day basis.
-Randy Reisfeld

Checking In With Our Save-A-Limb Riders

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today, here about the first month of training from rider Randy Reisfeld!

Week 1: Well, my first spin class over with, and I survived! But wow…..I was really nervous the whole day in anticipation of the class. I’m usually not like that, but I guess it was the unfamiliarity of the equipment, and not knowing what to expect when I got there. It was 45 minutes of grueling riding, up and down in the seat, but my goal was to keep pedaling for the whole time, and I did it!. Even wearing padded bike shorts, the worst part was the soreness of sitting on the seat. They tell me that in about 2 weeks, it won’t be so bad. I guess I’ll find that out. Just proud of myself that I made it through the first class.

Week 2: As I continue to progress with my spin class, I am finding that I enjoy it, much to my surprise. It is a difficult work-out, but the nice part about it is that you can modify it to you’re abilities. My goal each class is to try to continue to increase the resistance and stay with the class through the whole 45 minutes or hour class. I even purchased spin shoes, 2 pairs of padded bike shorts, and just recently bought a padded seat cover that I can also use on my bicycle. Haven’t tried out the padded seat yet…..planning on that at tonight’s class.

Week 3: This week was not a good week for working out. Wasn’t feeling well, so I missed the whole week of spin class, though I got back in the saddle over the weekend. Tried out the padded seat cover, but didn’t like it, as I kept slipping off the seat. Was drained from the class Saturday morning, a combination of not feeling well over the week, and a week of missed classes. Got home, and didn’t move from the sofa for two hours!! Feeling much better now, so I will continue with my three times per week spinning. I’ve also been swimming, which I’ve been alternating with the cycling classes, and I’m feeling more in shape, though the pounds aren’t changing. But I will persevere!!

Week 4: Much better performance last night at class. Had a lot of energy, and was able to increase the resistance and push myself through the whole class. The time went much faster, and I wasn’t going to collapse, like I felt last week. Oh yeah, and my butt didn’t hurt at all!! My goal for the remainder of this week, besides a couple more spin classes, is to get out on my own bike, hopefully this weekend, and see how I feel doing the real thing.

There are 11 weeks to go till the ride!! I can do it!!!
-Randy Reisfeld

Meet Our Save-A-Limb Riders

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today, meet rider Justin Newman!

When I walked down the aisle at the Maryland Zoo in November 2008, little did I know it would result in this blog post two years later, discussing recovery from knee surgery.

Following a delightful wedding (complete with Tux and Tails), my wife and I flew to Barcelona and boarded Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas to cruise across the North Atlantic back home. As the boat progressed across the ocean, my bride and I decided it would be a wonderful idea to avail ourselves of the on-board ice skating rink.

Ice skating while on a boat sailing across rough waters (30 and 40 foot waves were common) admittedly seems a bit foolish in hindsight, but at the time, perhaps it was the "newlywed glow" surrounding my head. Only a few minutes into skating, I fell, necessitating a visit to the ship's crude medical facilities and crutches for the remainder of the trip.

Upon our return to Baltimore, I sought out one of Baltimore's top orthopedic surgeons, Jon Koman. Koman, a sports medicine doctor who has specifically published articles on arthroscopic meniscal repair, seemed the right doctor to repair my left meniscus.

After the surgery and recovery in January 2009, Dr. Koman encouraged me to find a low impact physical activity to continue my recovery. While I biked to work daily in 2003 and 2004, I've hardly been on a bike since moving to Baltimore ... and promptly having my bicycle stolen. So, my wife and I found two bicycles on Craig's List for the sum total of $100, and we started doing a little riding.

Of course, without a goal, life intervenes and I haven't ridden nearly as much as I should. When given the opportunity to work with the trainers at LifeBridge Health & Fitness, I jumped at the opportunity to train for the sixty-mile Save-a-Limb Metric Century ride this fall.

When I'm not getting ready for Save-a-Limb, I'm the Chief Operating Officer of Capalon Communications, a Baltimore-based website development, hosting, and telecommunications firm, a consultant for Katz Associates, and the founder of Walter Rescue, an animal rescue group providing rescuers with access to emergency medical care for rescued dogs and cats. If I'm not on a bicycle, I'm likely to be accompanied by Joey, a 5 1/2 month-old Guide Dog Foundation service dog-in-training, as well as my lovely wife, whom I don't blame for suggesting ice skating in the North Atlantic.
-Justin Newman

Meet Our Save-A-Limb Riders!

Editor's Note: We've asked two former LifeBridge Health orthopedic patients to do the Save-A-Limb bike ride in October. As they train, they'll be sharing their experiences here on the LifeBridge Health blog. Today, meet rider Randy Reisfeld!

A 30- or 60-mile bike ride ... What, am I crazy? Well, as a divorced mom with three teenagers, I know crazy is in my vocabulary!

Hi. My name is Randy, and I am going to tell you a bit about myself, and why I want to train for the Save-A-Limb bike ride.

First, as an occupational therapist here at Sinai, I know the benefits of such a great cause as this. Though I spend most of my work time in the Jennifer Gandel Kachura Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I know many of the therapists who work with pediatric and adult clients that have had orthopedic surgeries or therapy. Independence in daily living skills and optimizing functional skills are goals of occupational therapy. Even though I am working with tiny babies, I am helping them achieve the highest level of function possible so that they can continue to develop those skills needed for independence down the road. The Rubin Institute of Advanced Orthopedics provides a resource to clients that have disruption in their functional skills, and this event will raise money for those that are unable to access the care.

Secondly, on a more personal note, I have experienced the disruption in my own functional skills quite a few times over the past three years. In February 2008, I underwent a 3-level lumbar fusion here at Sinai. I spent six days in the hospital, and three months at home, recuperating.

One month after finally getting back to work full time, I had a crazy fall, and fractured my right arm, again requiring surgery, and rehabilitation. More recently, I have been dealing with daily migraine headaches.

All of these things impacted my ability to function, whether short or long-term. I turned 50 this year, and I want to be healthy, active and fit for my next 50 years. I know this can happen, and my goal is to complete the 30-mile bike ride to prove to myself, and to others that age is just a number.

I will be sharing my training experiences here, and maybe motivate others to attempt to do something that might seem out of your reach or comfort zone. It's all for a great cause!
-Randy Reisfeld

Bike to Work Tomorrow

If you're like many of us, finding time to exercise can seem impossible.

But one way to fit in exercise is to walk or bike to work. And what better day to try that than tomorrow, Baltimore's Bike-to-Work Day?

Biking is a low-impact activity that's especially great for anyone with bad knees. It's a way to burn off those calories: a 150-lb person can expect to burn 300 calories in a half hour by biking between 12-14 mph. Biking to work also saves you money on gas and car maintenance, plus saves you money on parking. By biking to work, you are also cutting back on pollution and being environmentally responsible.

Tomorrow is a great day to start a new commitment to biking to work. Remember to wear a helmet and layer your clothes. Morning celebrations for Bike-To-Work Day will be at:

• Anne Arundel Co/Annapolis - City Dock, Annapolis
• Baltimore City - War Memorial Plaza at City Hall (100 N. Holliday St.)
• Baltimore County - Courthouse Square (400 Washington Ave, Towson)
• Carroll County - Westminster
• Harford County - Government Center (220 S. Main St, Bel Air)
• Howard County - The Mall in Columbia (by Sears Service Center, 10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia

And once you're getting back into biking, remember that the Save-A-Limb Ride is October 17.

Sign Up for the Save-A-Limb Ride

Registration is open for the 4th annual Save-A-Limb Ride and Festival, which will be Sunday, September 13, at Oregon Ridge Park.

This event benefits the Save-A-Limb Fund, a non-profit organization established with the goal of advancing patient care and support in the fight to preserve limbs and joints from amputation, both domestically and abroad, through the research and work of the physicians and staff of the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics (RIAO) at Sinai Hospital.

Options for riding include a 6-mile Family Ride, which starts at 10 a.m., a 30-mile ride, which starts at 9 a.m., or the Metric Century ride, which is 62.60 miles and starts at 8 a.m.

The event features professional cyclist Floyd Landis. The post-ride festivities include a picnic and carnival with live music, face painting, costume characters, demonstrations by the police K-9 Unit, carnival games, water balloons, egg races, a Dunk the Doctors tank and much more.

For more information, click here.