Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Sporting ASKickers Do any of you play competitive sports?

As an avid football fan and lover, i am most disappointed that i cannot partake as it would hurt too much. I even had to turn down the offer of playing on the cricket team at work as i cannot swing the bat, bowl the ball or run very well. Does anyone play in any team games? or does anyone have any ideas about which sport i could try? The football season is about to start soon and as much as i enjoy watching from the side lines, i just want to play something!

Any ideas guys n gals?

I'm not really a classic AS sufferer, (don't have the spinal stiffening, mostly have SI joint problems) and never was much for sports even in the best of times, although as a youth, I was a decent skier and liked to play handball

But I do find that I can still pull off a reasonable game of water volleyball, even now, once I'm in the water, it soothes the joints, as well as even jump around a bit, I guess the water softens the impact somewhat, you might try something like that-

Hi Anna! Sports are out for me. I used to play a lot of basketball but even this sport is tough for me. I try to stick to mental pursuits like history or chess.

I play hockey (field hockey not ice hockey!) in the winter and for the last two years touch rugby in the summer. Usually pretty good, I used to have to wear a support on one of my knees but it has been a lot stronger in the past year and I don't need it anymore. The last couple of weeks I have had stiff and really sore hips by the end of a game making it hard to walk and run, I think it is due to the cold weather we have been having and also the steroid infusion I had recently is wearing off I think. My lower back tends to get a bit stiff near the end of a game too.

I really enjoy playing both sports though, and I'm sure the exercise does me a lot of good.

Hi Spanna,

I used to play Ice Hockey, then speed skating, and now I'm looking at doing Lawn Bowls.

I've also wondered if I would be able to skii, seeing as it should be pretty low impact.

James

my only sport is trying to get my toddlers into the tub and then into clothes for bedtime.... eeeeeee!! can't do much else anymore! LOL!

Hey, thanks guys, it's nice to hear what other ASkickers get up to. I'm not sure i could do any field sports as i can't run very well, but water sports; i'll definitely give that some thought! I used to swim about a mile twice a week and really should start again and get my fitness level back up.

Anna

I play soccer. I've played most of my life and I refuse to let my AS take that away from me altogether. It has kicked my butt at times, but I still trek on. I used to play about 5 times a week, but I'm down to one night, but I won't let it take it from me. I think I need it for my sanity. I feel if I have to give that up, than it has won and I can't let it do that, not right now. If I ever give up playing soccer, it has to be on my terms, not this stupid diseases terms.

well i gave up on soccer and softball hurt too much. but now i'm into competitive showing roses. WOW me and my wife have had a ball showing roses across the country at local shows and national shows. I do get sore when we have to cut all 300 rose bushes back 4 weeks before a show so we will have wonderful blooms to take to the show

haha sooner - showing roses sounds great though!