I asked a similar question once before, and did get several answers. Most suggested speaking to a PT spine specialist. Unfortunately, the Army provides very limited access to such specialists, typically reserving them for folks returning from theater. The PT here at Fort Knox told me to avoid putting pressure on my spine. To which I responded, "Like this?" while moving my hands in various, semi-creative ways. He and I had a good laugh, but I'm still fat and still eager to work out - if only in some minimal way. The 60 pounds I've gained since the injury can't be helping, and I'm not the sort of person who can lose a lot of weight by dieting alone. With a paralyzed leg, cardio is out. Limited upper body weight training and limited pool physical therapy is about all that's available to me.

Again, I appreciate you all taking time to assist me. I'm still adjusting, it's been hard, but this site and the support I've received from those contributing here have lightened the load.

Thank you all.

J

I think I responded before to one of your posts. Can't remember exactly what exercises I said were safe. I have a list from my spine specialist physical therapist that she said are safe for me to do and I have been doing most of them at the gym on my own. Here is the list of safe weight lifting exercises.

leg extension
leg curls
latissimus dorsi pulls
rows - not a rowing machine but rows
triceps/biceps *free motion or free weights
hip abduction/ adduction machines
chest press machine
Treamill, stationary bikes, swimming

So I have been doing all of these except for the hip abduction and it's all going well. The training I received for doing all of these is to keep the transverse abdominus muscle tight when doing all of these exercises. Also don't try to max yourself and lift as much as you can. I just keep it at what I can lift as a set of 10.

Hope this helps.