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Learning to walk

Posted , 10 users are following.

Kikeena
Kikeena

How many new tricks can an old dog learn? I was going to title this “learning to walk again”, but in my case I don’t think I’ve ever walked properly.

Apparently if you walk properly you are more comfortable and use half as much energy as the flat footed gait I’ve had. I really want to learn to walk properly so I will eventually be able to walk further and enjoy it more. I’m only talking short walks and shopping here folks, but even these have been tough for me for the last 10 years. I'm declaring my goal here. I don't usually make goals, especially physical ones. So this is different for me!

So heel to toe, stand up straight and swing those arms. If anyone wants to know more there’s some good info on youtube under "heel to toe walking".

Does anyone want else interested in this?

Keena

3 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • maggie93798
    maggie93798 Kikeena

    Posted

    I have also been trying to get into the habit, or be honest I do not think many of us walk properly
  • shirley17649
    shirley17649 Kikeena

    Posted

    Hi kikeena

    Sounds like a good idea.

    Maybe that is how we wore out our hips in the first place?

    Joking apart, I think we need to be kinder to our joints.  They have to put up with a lot.

    Maybe we should have a time slot called JAW = Joint Awareness Week cheesygrin

  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 Kikeena

    Posted

    I think as our hips have failed us we have learn't over the years to take shorter steps, swing our bad leg to the side, whatever gives you some relief from the pain. Unfortunately after you have your surgery you then have to un-learn all of these BAD HABITS. We have shortened up tendons and muscles, and or strengthened  some muscles and others have become weak, from misuse. All a part of getting well I'm afraid. 
  • renee01952
    renee01952 Kikeena

    Posted

    dear Keena, 

    I am right there with you ... amazing how bad my gait is - Mrs. Frankenstein goes Pinguin --- I have 2 good hips now and really, seriously am trying to walk properly -

    it is so easy to just do the crawl like movements in order to get somewhere faster or to show "them" that you can walk without aids ...

    The swinging of arms especially ! apparently I didn't do that - so used to holding on to something with tight hands - weird huh? 

    Thanks Keena, for bringing this up - I think it is one of the most important things post THR ... okay, even slower moving with more awareness for the coming weeks ! 

    I will have a look at the "heel to toe" walking ... 

    big warm hug

    renee

    • linnet2015
      linnet2015 renee01952

      Posted

      you made me laugh renee my husband says Mrs Frankenstein goes Pinguin describes the way I walked perfectly! 

      Linnet x😄😄

    • Kikeena
      Kikeena renee01952

      Posted

      Hi renee

      I know what you mean about the swinging arms. I have to work out which arm to swing and it all feels very strange. As does standing up straight and using my ankles. I don't think I've ever in y whole life done this.

      My new physio examined my Xrays and pointed out I have an externally rotated femur originating in my hip and sacro iliac joint. Apparently I would have had it from birth like my mother sister and daughters. I'm need to walk with my feet out to keep the hip in the socketsocket. Thank God for physios who take the time to really look and understand. Why hasn't anyone told me before.

      Thanks for listening to this rant

      Keena

  • linnet2015
    linnet2015 Kikeena

    Posted

    Hi Keena

    Yes Im really interested in walking properly again. After my first hip op my physio was trying to get me to walk "properly" again back straight, heel to toe not looking down all the time but unfortunately because my other hip was so bad I gradually went back to walking lop sided. So now I have my two two new hips there are no excuses!

    At the moment I have been mostly practising my walking around the house but as it should be fine today I am going to get outside to get some fresh air even if its just around my garden. 

    So before I try that Im going to check out the youtube info.

    Linnet x

     

  • shirley17649
    shirley17649 Kikeena

    Posted

    Hi Kikeena,

    I just had a look at the You Tube video and think I might do a bit of heel and toe walking.

    I am walking quite straight with one crutch but I don't want to make the mistake I did last time - came off my crutches too early and developed a really ugly limp.

  • cathie38426
    cathie38426 Kikeena

    Posted

    Hi Kikeena,

    Have you ever sat people watching to see different

    walks, I did this before The op, and I couldn't believe

    how many lopsided walks there are. I know they

    couldn't all be waiting for hip ops! I am trying to retrain

    my husband's walk as he has been having lower back

    pain.

    Cathie

    • Kikeena
      Kikeena cathie38426

      Posted

      Hi Cathie, I think I might go to the park tomorrow to watch some people walking. And to practice of course.
    • andolino
      andolino cathie38426

      Posted

      Cathie I have been trying to keep posture proper while walking, I have been so used to looking at the ground all along it feels strange to walk tall and straight, but anyone who ever served in any military services have never lost this ability. I feel like I am showing off when I do this Strange isnt it
    • renee01952
      renee01952 andolino

      Posted

      dear andolino,

      it's even better. ...not only walking tall and straight, but also soft knees, swinging arms while moving shoulders, hips also need to be relaxed and swinging, ..

      it is exhausting to me right now ...muscles are aching but am determined to get better. ..

      😫Big warm hug

      Renee ❤

    • Kikeena
      Kikeena andolino

      Posted

      I too have been staring at the ground, terrified of falling over. Now as Renee said, I'm trying very hard to walk relaxed. Concentrate relax. Contradictory!

      I saw the physio today and I drop my operated hip because of weak glutes so I have exercises to strengthen them. Then walk with glutes tightened and legs relaxed. But I March with everything tight. Apparently it takes 6 weeks of practice for it to kick in.

  • linnet2015
    linnet2015 Kikeena

    Posted

    Hi Keena

    I have had a look at the heel to toe walking on Youtube and although I dont think I ready for it (2.5 weeks) I will def give it a try in a few weeks. I am seeing my physio next week so will ask her about when I could start.

    In the mean time I will carry on doing my exercises to strengthen my muscles around hip and bottom (believe me they need it!).

    Linnet x

  • Kikeena
    Kikeena

    Posted

    I'm laughing about Frankenstein! And a big Yes! I think it's one of the most important things we can do after the early recovery. As I was practising inside today my husband said 'You look so different!' And I feel different too. I feel confident and able bodied not disabled. When I walk flat footed and stooped I still feel a little disabled. How I walk affects how I feel about myself.

    I'm so excited about this because I think I may be more active than I ever thought possible. And hopefully much less depressed than I've been this past year.

    And yes, 2.5 weeks is too early to start, but not too early to plan. One of the things I've learned is to push off the back foot rather than reach forward with the front. It feels quite different.

    Happy walking fellow hippies,

    Keena

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