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Let’s Go Walking! Join me for a virtual walking support group
Just Want to Talk | Last Active: Dec 4 7:56am | Replies (4374)Comment receiving replies
@fiesty76 Good morning, Fiesty. You made my day! Thank you! I’ve always been athletic and took my strength/balance for granted. I think we all do... Never in my life had I felt frail. That feeling scared me outta my skin! It hadn’t occurred to me it was my lack of core strength throwing me off!
The shocker was when my physical therapist, at the first appointment, had me stand in front of a Ballet bar. She instructed me not to touch it but to have my hands hover over the top in case I lost my balance. She had me close my eyes and raise one foot off the ground. Easy peasy, right? Nope!! The second I closed my eyes, I was going over, but grabbed the bar of course. That rattled me!!
Such a simple test to check for balance but so revealing! Try doing that in front of a chair or a countertop for support and test your own balance. Holding your hands out over the counter or chair for a quick grab, close your eyes then lift one foot slightly off the ground. Do you feel tippy? Then try the other foot.
Honestly, it took less than a week for my feeling of frailty to pass and my balance to return after doing the simple exercises she provided. Do you do any arm strengthening exercises?
We’ll be so buff by the time people can see us again. Go take on the day!! Lori.
Replies to "@fiesty76 Good morning, Fiesty. You made my day! Thank you! I’ve always been athletic and took..."
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Oh, Lori, @loribmt, you just provided my first smile of the morning! Also athletic and truly a kid at heart, I first realized I had balance issues a few years ago when attempting a heel-to-toe walk on a wide curbing surrounding a playa lake. What had been so easy brought a real jolt when I wobbled and had to jump off the curb.
That wake up call lead me to searching the 'net for core strengthening and balance exercises. I printed and clipped four easy and quick-to-dos to kitchen cabinet handles and of the four, the one you mentioned is the first I do each time in the kitchen! And Yes! at first I was shocked at how quickly I'd wobble but now I can do each of the four for much longer periods and even away from a "support".
Unfortunately, I did not save the web site for these four but one of the links you provided may include them.
I have really missed the "chair Yoga class" since it closed due to Covid but I do a few simple wt bearing exercises at home and on walks. Truly, I started with carrying two "reg. sized" cans of veggies and ramped up to two of the larger cans of La Choy chow mein. lol
The key for me, because I much prefer any exercise with another, sigh, is to find short exercises that I'll actually do!
Although I considered a variable weighted vest, I decided against that unless approved my a doc because of my osteoporosis. The "10 Minute Workout" is great and I need to see if I can find a web link to the site? Think there is a "join" button on the video so that may provide the needed link.
Best to you and all who are working to stay as active and steady-on-our-feet as possible!