Bit of advice needed for legs with spinal disease

[Gramps]

I know this isn't a rehab board and fully understand that, but I also fully well know some of you know your shit regarding individual muscle training. For those who don't know, I'm somewhere around 50 and have limited use of my legs due to spastic paraplegia (weak signal to extremities, shortening of rear leg tendons, general suckiness). I can still walk, but barely. Uphill is fine, downhill is scary as all fuck and it's all in the muscles used for each. Due to nerve crossfiring, my calves are bulky since they "exercise" 24 hours, but that works against me as SP has control of them, not me. So...

I stumbled onto a free roadside rescue weight bench (weider 245 in nice shape, have since added a weider total body 5000 glider) I've put into use trying to lose 50 pounds as well as regain strength lost sitting on my fucking ass for 10 years. Leg presses are doable with the same settings in other exercises, but it made me wonder what exactly my weak point was - I found it - leg curls! That shit ain't happening unless the weight pin is in my hand. ANY weight is beyond my capabilities for leg curls. I've managed 4 sets of 15 with no pin with eyes watering, but I wanted to ask here "what else can I do to add strength to hamstrings?" Leg curls, obviously, what else? I know I'm long term fucked, but if there's anything to be gained for short term use, toss me a bone.

 

[hotdog23]

Can you touch your toes and raise back up? On one leg?

I don't know that neuro muscular inhibition has anything to do with it. So exercise may not bring back proper fiber/motor unit recruitment. By all means try. Isometric contractions may be best right now. Mind muscle connection. You said walking uphill is fine. Upper hamstrings are heavily utilized on inclined surfaces

Lunges
SLDL
Hyperextensios
Glute bridge
All leg curls

 

[Mr.B66]

Stiff legged deadlifts without weight and as a you get stronger slowly add weight. And as these become easier then leg curls should become more doable as will other exercises mentioned by hd23.
Good luck gramps!!

 

[Gramps]

I had to wait to get back on my computer so's I could look up some new terms you threw at me!

Isometric contractions really best describes what happens in my calves 24 hrs/day due to misfiring nerve signals. I get the concept, I'm not sure I can properly apply it but I'll look into that.

As for "uphill is fine", that's comparative speak. Flat ground is a challenge to walk these days, but uphill has always been rather equal to level ground, not to be mistaken for "easy". It's the muscle group engaged in downhill walking that is most effected at this point and there's no mistaking the difference.

Hyperextensions are automatic with my issue and are a huge NO NO as I have to take care as it is to preserve my kneecaps, unless I'm misunderstanding you. You ever see the "Hanna and her horse" commercial where the horse says he wasn't paying attention since he was monitoring his walking? That's where I'm at every step. "step while checking hyperextension, place foot, plant it, step while checking hyperextension, repeat". To sum that up, what comes as easy as breathing to you, is a constant math quiz to me. If you're talking about hamstring hyper extensions, I'll have to research on methods that don't leave me wanting to jump in front of a bus. Those pain receptors work overtime.

Glute bridge and curls? Gotcha! THOSE I can "run" with and cross my fingers! SLDL I'll look into to see what I have to work with to see how/if that can be doable. I appreciate the input!