Posted by floatingbridge on May 1, 2011, at 1:09:31
In reply to Re: walking poles/hiking poles, posted by alexandra_k on April 29, 2011, at 18:31:55
Hey Alex!
> Where is your spinal injury? Lumbar / thoracic junction or somewhere else?This is under investigation. Injury to the lumbar for sure. Spinal instability in lumbar, cervical, potential instability in one spot of thoracic. MRI's eventually. Degenerative discs. The big cr*ppy news is fibromyalgia and crazy fatigue. A
cranky physiatrist (spine doc) said my pain was increasing due to inactivity (before the fibromyalgia) and I knew that was true, but couldn't figure out what to do. I had been a regular brisk walker for years (since running was contraindicated :-( now that was my drug!) but felt overwhelmed and scared when walking *made* me tired. It was weird. I didn't know about fibromyalgia at first, but when I began to read about CFS--I was getting desperate--I'd bump into fibromyalgia--but that didn't make sense. No tender points.(This is the story of my collapse in response to your recovery. Sorry :( )
Anyways, yes, muscle supports joints. I know that because as I decreased activity--my joints hurt. Now I realize I have some osteoarthritis, yes, back, hips, feet (!) but not so bad. I'm so deconditioned. And it happened so rapidly. I'm trying to stabilize from that and begin moving forward.
>
> I didn't mean to be totally dismissive of the idea of light weight training producing results...We're totally good :-)
>
> But there is a world of difference between 'maintenence' and 'improvement'. Because of the age related decline you actually need to improve in order to maintain - if that makes sense. And... You probably want to make up for some of the decline that has already happened since your early 20's...
>
> It is a bit hard, though...
>
> When I first started at the gym I got a machine weights program. I did that for 3 months and it was actually pretty good for me because I learned what muscles each machine was supposed to work (helpful pictures on the machines) and learned to have some voluntary control over the activation of the muscles. I was also really weak. Had difficulty doing three sets of 8-10 at the lightest weight.
>
> Progress comes so very fast when you just start out... Only took one or two weeks before I could put the weight up and get the 8-10 reps! That was what got me hooked... Feeling that I was making progress.
>
> After 3 months I got a free weights program. Squat, Lunge, and some dumbbell exercises. I spent much longer on these without any weight at all. Learning how to hold my spine safely for overhead pressing (engage abs and glutes and don't overextend the spine) and just getting the hang of the movements. I... Probably got a bit weaker with respect to my strength on the old exercises... But these are functional movements and now I'm able to use them in my daily life (e.g., squat to sit, lunge to pick up stuff from the ground, press to put stuff on the shelf).
>I used to fence :D. The terms are used differently. Squatting is good work though. Important to yoga, too. But when you say lunge up above, do you mean like in the videos where, let's see if I can remember, when the lifter put one leg behind in a kind of skip under the weight? Man.
> Squatting was really hard for me because I've got long femurs and my knees can't come in front of my ankles
because of my injuries and also because i've got some crankiness in my hips so that they really don't like a wider squatting stance. Did a lot of reading on the internet trying to learn how to squat properly... And discovered the Olympic Lifts. I wanted to be able to do them
with good form. Symbol of flexibility, mobility, and strength for me. Didn't know if it would be possible, but wanted to try.
I can see this now in the video, now that you've talked about your form and because I have like read this thread like three times :P.Jeepers, I am wondering what you
activity and fitness routines were like before your injuries. Because you do
know this is incredible. Did you always have this focus, just on other things?>
> Apparently if you are athletic you can expect to snatch your bodyweight in 1 year. I wasn't athletic, though, and much
of my training is still focusing on mobility
(still working on my back position and ankle mobility and trying to relax the
tendons / muscles in my feet / lower legs). I can snatch about half my bodyweight at the moment (after 1 year). Hopefully I'll be snatching my bodyweight this time next year :-)
>I hope so, too!
> It is about finding something you enjoy...
True. Wish me luck. Though you sure have me curious.
> But... One virtue of heavy weights is that it improves bone density (so you are less likely to fracture bones later in life). One virtue of functional movements (squat, lunge etc) is that you are less
likely to lose your balance / fall later in
life.
>
> Use the muscles - spare the joints.
>
> Used to have a lot of joint pain. Then I learned that muscles are what is supposed to protect your joints. Muscles are the impact absorbers... Not your ankles and knees after all... Forefoot gentle strike and your arches will eventually progressively adapt to do what they are designed to do (the
muscles in your midfeet are the primary shock absorbers for motion). Orthotics are a crutch... They might give you better mobility but it is artificial in the sense that you aren't working to rectify the weakest link. To have better mobility from within yourself...Well, this is not what I expected when I inquiried about walking poles. How delightful to be surprised. You are awesome! Go team Alex :D
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*a rose by any name
poster:floatingbridge
thread:983787
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20110407/msgs/984252.html