showcrop

Well-known Member
I posted a few weeks ago about exercise needed as we age and how just "staying active" doesn't necessarily do the job. Well, I am recently turned 68 years old and yesterday I went for my two year DOT physical. I had no significant problems and passed OK, but I was a little concerned when he had me walk heel to toe for a few steps with my eyes closed, and I started to tip a little. That evening I told my wife about it. I was concerned because I know that the elderly tend to have balance problems and that one of the "wellness" questions that they always ask is "have you fallen recently". Well, even though I have not fallen I was a little concern with the apparent reduction in my balance. My wife told me that an elderly lady that she knows had told her that the doctor had told her to everyday stand on each foot, one at a time each for thirty seconds every day. So, there is an addition to my daily excesses. I am not giving up! I am not just staying active. I am going after those little trouble spots that suddenly turn into a big problem.
 
That exercise would help the next time you get pulled over by the cops after sitting in a bar for hours and the cop wants you to walk toe to toe.---Tee
 
At seventy I try to do a mile and half fast walk each day. I had six stents inserted twelve years ago and use my walks as an indicator of how my circulatory system is doing. I walk in the street in my neighborhood because of the numerous uneven sidewalks. As I get older it takes me longer to regain my balance when I stumble on the uneven surface. So I avoid them and just walk on the back streets that don't have much traffic.
 

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I was told to balance on one foot while brushing my teeth. After 30 seconds, switch quadrants (of my mouth) and switch feet. Supposed to be good for something (apparently not memory, since I don't remember what). Since I have an electric toothbrush that buzzes every 30 seconds, this seemed like a pretty easy goal. I did it for a week or so and then forgot about it...
 
Balance is a learned skill, as anyone who has seen a little-one learn to stand and walk knows. Neurologic signals from sensory nerves in the joints of the legs and spine, plus clues from vision and the vestibular (balance) mechanism in the ear must all combine to allow us to simply stand up and stay up. At any age, you MUST keep moving to stay in practice, and all these systems lose their edge over time. You are doing the right and necessary thing - Keep Moving. While it is not your problem, in the case of severe arthritic damage to joints in the legs, these joints send little if any sensory info to the brain. Persons with this problem are able to stand primarily from clues based on vision. Closing their eyes robs them of their primary source orientation and they fall over.
 
I heard a Dr. say, that you can sum up how to live a long healthy life in just two words "DON'T FALL"......
 
Yep; I agree with that. If I tried to stand on one foot at my age I would fall for sure. Just keep reminding yourself that you are never going back to your youth, so you have to make adjustments along the way.
 
My doctor told me when I retired from my second job to lose the riding lawn mower. I have a 48 inch walk behind that I mow about an acre and a half with,
sometimes more than once a week. I also work in the woods spraying the hillsides with roundup to kill the bush honeysuckle. I slip and slide and fall down
almost every day with the four gallon pump up sprayer on my back. That really throws me off balance. You guys would laugh your tails off watching me crawl to
a tree to stand up. I am almost 72 and still trying. Ellis
 
(quoted from post at 08:45:45 05/23/17) I was told to balance on one foot while brushing my teeth. After 30 seconds, switch quadrants (of my mouth) and switch feet. Supposed to be good for something (apparently not memory, since I don't remember what). Since I have an electric toothbrush that buzzes every 30 seconds, this seemed like a pretty easy goal. I did it for a week or so and then forgot about it...

I do about a dozen deep knee bends while shaving, so I could add the one leg stands while brushing my teeth. I am just so glad to find out about this before it has become a problem for me. I think that it is a shame that the medical community doesn't publicize this more.
 
Ellis,
My boy is 38 and only has 1/3 acre. He bought a 48 inch walk behind hustler. He has a desk job and wanted a walk behind. Top speed 6.5 mph. I'm impressed with how well it's designed, 17 hp kohler. The steering has handle bar design and when you turn it, one wheel turns faster that the other, power steering like a ztr.

For Christmas my boy got me a fitbit. Linked it to my smart phone so he can see how many steps I do a day. I usually exceed 10k a day average 80k a week. Boy can't keep up with me. 68, retired when I was 55.

More for fun and a little exercise, I just completed a 4 mile bike ride. Bike is my mom's old 3 wheeler with a western saddle seat, very comfortable.

As for me, I mow 3 yards, total of 5 acres using my Jubilee, 72 inch, 4.25 mph. Very easy on my back after I found a 1940's aftermarket Monroe seat.
geo
 

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