Look After Your Legs

[NoisySnail]

I was in a cafe today and over heard an elderly woman talking to younger friends about getting older. She said the best advice she could give is to look after your legs as they are so important for mobility. But annoyingly she did not explain what she meant by this, and I could hardly ask!

So does anyone know how we can look after our legs?

@LoobyDop That is sad but very easy to slip into. I had a period of ill health for months. I was so ill that getting to the toilet was a challenge. As I slowly got better I was shocked to find out how much my strength and fitness had deteriorated. It took my months to get to functionality again and that was with the help of specialist exercise classes.
A physio once told me if you injure yourself it is better to walk much more slowly but still using all your muscles as normal, otherwise you can cause injury elsewhere, which is what happened to your mum.

Those of you in the know - is it worth pursuing bunion removal on both feet, meaning being out of action for a little while after surgery, for a fit and active 48 yo (ie me 😉) to have a better chance of remaining active in years to come?

This is a great thread 🙌🏻 I do the balancing on each foot when brushing teeth and could get up off the floor without using hands but I’d never heard of getting up with crossed legs. Glad to say I was able to do it, I’m 51. Tomorrow I’ll try to do it with a 4kg kettlebell (as seen on IG!).

Honestly, physio is your best bet! Walking backwards on a treadmill, cycling and sled pulls plus leg lifts, leg extensions single leg glute bridges, all good for supporting your knee! I only know because I had meniscus surgery and have a torn ACL so have had to work hard had building up muscular strength to properly support my knee to avoid further surgery but a visit to a physio if you’re having trouble will definitely give you the most tailored insight. YouTube would also help!

Walking is great. My Grandma walked everywhere, and did until the day she tripped and broke her hip when she was 100 years old. Only lived another 6 months but completely independent until then. Also drank a bottle of sherry a day ( not sure that's relevant😄)

My top tip for feet moisturising is to do it in the morning rather than night. I don’t like wearing socks to bed but moisturising in the morning became an easy part of the routine. You can also use up any of the random travel sized body lotions that come with gift baskets etc, no need to buy a specialist foot cream necessarily.

Thanks. 😊

I am loving this thread!

I've always been fit & active but last year had an accident ( well the cat bit my shin when I trapped her tail in the toilet seat) and needed a skin graft!

I'm 57 but just being incapacitated for 7 weeks has really affected my fitness!

I'm doing body pump again, a stretching class swimming once per week & really trying to walk every day - walking is almost the hardest!

I think my hip flexors are totally useless!
So much good advice here!

Functional fitness. Squats, balancing on one leg. Flexibility - Bending over so you can pick things off the floor. All will be massively beneficial as you age.

There's some really good exercises on here

www.instagram.com/stephanieridgwaydpt?igsh=ZTd0ZHBybnk5dGlx

You would be surprised. 95% of my 20/30yo yoga group couldn’t do this. It’s not an age thing. It’s an era thing. Modern people are incredibly immobile.

And I wouldn’t do it too often. It’s awful for your knees. Which are essential to your legs working obviously. If you can do it just make sure you can maintain it. No need to go overkill.

Such a great thread thank you

Built muscle on your legs. Going to the gym. My MIL never workout now 75 already hard to walk and always hurt on hEr kness. Meanwhile my mum always do weight lifting since young until now still can run, dance and very active woman. Both same age.

I read somewhere to practice getting down and up from the floor every day, so that you don't lose that ability. During my period of injuries, I lost that ability and actually forgot how to do it. There is a video here called "Barry Get-Up" that shows in slow-mo how to get down and up off the floor.

Outlive Videos - Peter Attia (peterattiamd.com)

There was an article about this in the Times a few weeks ago - you get extra points if you can do it without using your elbows or knees

I wonder if the woman meant skin on the legs rather than merely joints/mobility. If you don’t moisturise regularly the skin can be thin and prone to cracking and then infection. This is more likely to be on the legs which is the one area where bandages can really affect movement and quality of life.
Just a thought.

following

This way is a bit easier:

@PaminaMozart thanks. I didn't use my elbows or knees at all actually. I used my weight/balance to swing up. These techniques do look easier.

I also managed to uncross to a wide squat position and stand up from there with no hands or knees.

I'm loving the fact that an overheard comment in a café has sparked a really helpful discussion and prompted so many of us to look after our legs better. Thank you random leg woman! 🦵 😄

@NoisySnail I haven't read the full thread so it may already have been mentioned, but please take a look at Tom Morrison on you tube and his SMM and other programmes. I have a bulging disc in my back & regularly have sciatic issues but since doing a range of the stretching exercises he demonstrates it has really helped.

Also worth checking out his story, I believe he broke his back & it was unclear if he be able to walk much let alone go back to martial arts & I think his philosophy that it's whole body strength & flexibility that matters is pretty sensible.

That's a good point too.
I've only ever moisturised my hands and face, but I'm now beginning to think I ought to do more. I had not thought about infection risk.

This is such a great thread thank you @NoisySnail 🤩 . I recently started moisturising my legs properly and sometimes really massaging them, but this thread has made me do it much more regularly. I’ve also got the yoga mat on the floor and am planking and practising getting up without using my hands throughout the day. Thank you for all the great advice and links that have been shared here.