In a comment recently, someone mentioned that the newer cars have all kinds of features to help us see better such as warnings if someone is in your blind spot and you start to change lanes, backup cameras, etc. I can tell you that sometimes I wish for those things. There is one road here where the road we’re driving on kinda just veers into another road and we have to yield. I noticed right off the bat that I couldn’t easily turn my head to see what was coming, almost from behind me.
That was almost three months. I googled “exercises to strengthen range of motion in neck”. Caution: Make sure you have no medical reasons that would make it unsafe for you to do these types of exercises!
In just these three months, it has made a huge difference. That made me realize that there are other areas I need to work on. I have a hard time getting up off the floor or even out of the tub if I take a bath. I’ve started doing light knee bends and have gradually been able to go deeper and do more repeats.
I was telling Vince and he shared that the physical therapist at work would tell them to do something – simple stretches are better than nothing.
When we bought this house and I made a few dozen trips up and down the stairs, I wondered if we had made a mistake. In this area, we would not consider a house with a basement (tornadoes) and it wouldn’t make sense to buy a house large enough to have a sewing room, and a second family room, except for having a basement so stairs were pretty much going to happen. I told Vince this week that those stairs are probably the best thing about this house. Now, I’m back to . . I wouldn’t say running but briskly climbing those stairs a dozen or more times a day and it isn’t bothering me at all. Don’t get me wrong . . I know there will come a day when the stairs will be an issue. We have everything we need upstairs IF we’re still living here and we can no longer go downstairs. Three bedrooms, two baths kitchen, family room, laundry, garage . . it would be the sewing room, Vince’s “man cave” and storage area we would miss. We’d have to get Chad to bring the TV upstairs and I’d probably have to scoot down on my butt to get my yarn but
I am by no means physically fit but I would like to improve at least some areas. Without the garden, the fruit trees, the chickens . . that’s a whole lot more sitting if I don’t make a real effort to improve. We have a rowing machine here and an exercise bike and both of those are set up and ready to use . . and I am going to use them.
We are all getting older but we don’t have to let our age dictate what we can do and what we can no longer do. I understand that there are physical limitations that we cannot control and things that stop us from being able to do the things that might help us but I hope to be able to do what I can while I can but it’s so easy to let other things come first. That’s where I have to work at it!
Carolyn says
I bought a new car 3 years ago. And it has what you are talking about w the cameras and the bells and flashing when someone is next to you.. the thing I like about it is that you don’t have to turn your head far to see if someone is behind you or too close on the sides….. I thing it’s one of the best safety features for old people ( and I’m old)
katie peterson says
I agree, going to keep my bedroom upstair as long as I can to help keep me moving. I do an exersize DVD that is a walking 15 minute mile, 3 different ways. First easy, second with ” bursts of energy” and the 3rd with weights. and a 10 minute stretch at the end. I figure the more I move, the more I can move. Keeping my joints oiled and pain free.
Rebecca says
When I was young and working in an office, one of the older men in my department (in retrospect, I still think he was fairly old for a working man) would talk about people who would react to pains by limping, or leaning, or whatever. He was of the opinion that that could only make it worse, and we should really try to correct such…accommodations. Your stretching and strengthening are keeping you more limbeer and stronger, longer.
I have been less active since Covid, and need to check out some stretching or yoga programs. The other day, a woman said she dealt with sciatica by following an intense stretching program meant for dancers! The more you can do for yourself, the better, I think.
Nelle Coursey says
I have always been of the opinion “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” So going up and down the stairs so many times is strengthening your leg and knee muscles. I am so glad you are doing these. The rowing will help not only your arms but your back as well. Yes we all need to be doing something each day. Do I? No, not always.