Look After Your Legs

Thanks so much for this thread OP.

I am a carer for my DH and am 61. I am not hugely unfit, but also not nearly as fit as I would like to be. I think I have been neglecting my own health a bit and some of the suggestions on here of things to do at home are really good. I have started going to the gym again, too, but really have to force myself to go.

Especially if combined with a daily plank:

For those who aren't very fit and/or can't/won't go to a gym, here is a fantastic little workout. Do it most days - it's only 10 minutes - but will strengthen the legs tremendously:

These kind of threads are always full of ultra fit people who do masses of exercise. But I think there needs to be more advice for those of us who are not going to be going to a gym but want to remain functionally active.

Tom Morrison mobility. He is on TikTok but I think he’s on YouTube too. He had an awful back issue which he has managed to improve and strengthen. He does a lot about stability of joints and strengthening, a lot for hips and back/shoulders etc. I started some of his moves early last year and my mobility has improved loads, my pain has decreased. In fact it’s a relief when I do the moves as I unstiffen and am able to move more freely. I do a little sequence that takes 15 minutes at least 3 times a week, it’s been life changing for my issues.

I partly blame pharmaceutical companies. They push the idea that no one should be in pain doing everyday things, and that is simply not realistic.

I agree. I was walking my dog on the South Downs recently. We didn’t go right to the top of the hill on this occasion but were following a path that was about halfway up the hill. There I met a woman walking pretty slowly and using walking poles. We got chatting and it transpired she was 86. She goes halfway up the hill at least three times a week and walks for as long as she feels able- some days it might be ten minutes, other days she’s up there for longer. She had a number of health problems and said that she is usually in pain- sometimes worse than others. I was struck by her determination to just keep moving, even though it’s difficult. I imagine someone like that would be very immobile if it weren’t for the efforts she was making to keep herself active.

Regarding the bungalow issue, I thought about it to future proof for my older age! However I decided against it. I have a downstairs loo/futility that is plumbed and electrified for a shower if I need it, so I postponed installing that also until it's necessary.

It is just so easy to use the loo downstairs, but I make a point of "galloping" up the stairs to use the main bathroom as often as I remember, so the downstairs loo area is used for visitors and storing crap. 😊

"Bungalow legs" can happen without a bungalow too.

Someone asked earlier about the score on the sit stand test- it’s here:
https://www.physio-pedia.com/30_Seconds_Sit_To_Stand_Test

I eye up mobility aids often, and am thinking about applying for a bye badge for bad days. I’ll delay it a both off the back of this thread, see if i can increase my sit/kneel/stand scores instead!

Hey, the same! Left leg too. Weird that

I agree @NoisySnail. There are a lot of much younger people using them now too. What’s going on?

I worry a lot about the mobility and fitness of people in my age group (40s). Many have not taken care of their bodies and have always gone for the easiest and laziest options. Many of them have ‘got away with it’ up till now, because we were young enough but how mobile will these people be at 50/60/70 and beyond? The cracks are soon going to start appearing.

One of my local supermarkets has two levels so as you enter the supermarket, you have to go up one level to reach the main shop. There is a staircase, a lift and a travelator (I think that’s what it’s called- basically a conveyer belt you stand on!) I always take the stairs and often have them to myself because the majority of people take the automated options. Obviously people in wheelchairs, those with prams or older people who already have mobility problems will need to take the lift or the travelator, and that’s why those options are offered, but I feel so frustrated when I see able-bodied, young people standing on the bloody conveyor belt, not even walking up it but just standing- and it takes ages! Some of these people are going to regret being lazy in the future. (And yes of course, some people may have hidden conditions or be dealing with pain even though they look fit, but it is the majority of customers standing on a conveyer belt- they can’t all be in pain).

Another vote for good compression socks - I'm prone to lymphodema and they have changed my life.

I have this problem with the standing from a seat exercise - the knees hurt like blazes, but there's no getting round it. The genetic condition apparently triggers arthritis and that's getting worse. There's also the fact that the condition means that my knees spontaneously dislocate and lock.

The knees caused a spectacular fall downstairs at work (a secondary school) one time. I was badly bruised, but otherwise ok. However, I couldn't drive for a couple of days because I was so sore. (Hips and back were rather colourful.)

Got back into work on the Monday. Two S4/Year 11 boys came running up to me: "Mrs AuldWumman! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, boys. That's kind of you to ask."

Just then, their pal came running up: "Aww! I just missed it!"

At least I provided entertainment!

Thank you. That's very much appreciated.

Oh and I was advised to increase my protein intake as much as possible to preserve muscle mass. Get advice on this if you have kidney issues though.

I'm approaching 67 now. I walk every day except Sunday which is a day of cooking and hosting mostly and little rest!

I can stand up from a sitting position without using hands or arms no problem. I can get up from the floor but using hands, any other method is just not worth it at my stage in life and smacks of masochism! I have a fall alert on my phone. Hopefully will not need it anytime soon.

When walking I regularly stop at my favourite shops and often carry back up to 10kg in my backpack which evenly distributes the weight. I hardly notice it, and it does help upper body.

My motto is "use it or lose it". Be active every day even if it is housework or gardening. No need for a gym or complicated exercise routines, well for me anyway. I can walk for miles without any problems so I consider myself very lucky and not obsessed either, I listen to my bones.