Relearning to Walk

Christina Lasich, MD Health Professional Specialist in Pain Management and Spine Rehabilitation Being a woman can be a pain in the back. I should know because my... Send Message Subscribe: Christina Lasich, MD

Monday, July 06, 2009
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No one would think of walking as a perishable skill. Without practice and repetition, walking can become a sloppy waddle. This skill involves multiple intricate components of muscle activation and nerve coordination. The foot and ankle need to be well synchronized to complete good heel-to-toe progres...

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Relearning to walk!
zoe ashcraft
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 at 10:24 PM

Thank you for sharing Christina. It's a gReat topic and one I intend to pay closer attention to. I have often wondered just how much potential I lost by not having rehabilitation (paid for by insurance- not) after my heart surgery. - All the stuff I deal with- seizures, difficulty walking, ect. ect. ect. hit like a landslide two months after my heart surgery.

moving on to read your butt muscles tips- !

over the rainbow,

zoe

re: Relearning to walk!
Christina Lasich, MD
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 04:14 PM

Thank you for your comments. The key word you mentioned is "potential". A good rehabilitation plan serves to maximize one's potential to physically do more safely and comfortably. With better muscle strength, better coordination, and better movement patterns, everyone has the potential to live with less pain. Eventhough insurance might not pay for rehabilitation, you might want to consider investing in yourself. You are worth it; there is no better investment than you. And an investment now can pay handsomely for the rest of your life.

Dr. Christina Lasich, MD

Walking
Mariepi
Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 11:23 AM

I just left a share post on Fibromyalgia saying that I have to keep from walking because of a problem of hperhydrosis , muscle weakness and pain when I walk and perspire that much. Your post just reaffirmed my thinking that I MUST do something because I am loosing that ability. Weird to say so but true. At home I have a treadmill, not an electric one and a bouncing trampoline and a small stepper ( a cheap one ) but it did help hubby to rehab from injury. What do you think I should use, I have A/C that I boost up when I need so it is better than outside, but still sweat like an old horse force to run.

Walking used to be my favorite exercise, I miss it so much. I realized the other day when I had to hurry at the mall for an appointment that I don't walk anymore as before. It's the only exercise I have left to me and I 'll need to walk for the rest of my life . Because of generalized pain I had to let go all my fav. sports, like bicycling, canoeing, tennis....I used to be very active.

Marie

re: Walking
Christina Lasich, MD
Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 01:48 PM

Let me reaffirm that chronic pain usually means you need to do something; just like thrist means you need to drink and hunger means you need to eat, pain means you need to do something to improve your health. Start with walking. However, you may not be able to start right away without first practicing the basic building block of walking: standing on one leg (walking is an act that requires you to be on one leg at a time, Please refer to my article about Buffing the Butt). When you do start to walk, start with a baseline that is will not cause a week long flare-up. Maybe 3 minutes to start. Using a treadmill is fine as long as it is flat and at your pace. You can add time every week until you reach your full potential. Don't forget to wear good supportive shoes.

You also mentioned a problem with profuse sweating. Many of my middle aged women also had problems with hot flashes and drenching sweats, until I placed them on Bio-identical hormone replacement. Being a woman does not have to be miserable.

Dr. Christina Lasich, MD

re: re: Walking
Mariepi
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 10:58 AM

Thank you for your reply. I wiill get at it because my walking at the mnall last week scared me, I saw myself as the old ladies rolling ( waddling) like barrels when they walk. I surely don't want to get there but they must be in great pain walking that way.

As for your middle age women with menopausal symptoms, what about your older ones, I am 67 yo ones ? I try different HRT those applied on topically and vag. were not good because of perspiring so much. It started 8 years ago few years .I had almost no problem with the meno.phase ,few nights sweats and few mood swings but not that bad. Maybe I am paying for that. I don't want go on oral meds ( anticholinergics) they scare me and I can't afford the side effects , I tried one but it did dry my inside not the outside.

Marie