topic Keeping your mobility in Wellness

Keeping your mobility

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 15:59:02 GMT

There is currently a PBS show called "Classical Stretch". The woman emphasizes how stretching keeps our joints mobile and fluid as we age. Today I started my own stretching session - going to do 1/2 hour every day and then my treadmill in the afternoon. Just doing some of the simple stretches shown on the PBS special has loosened the tightness in my hands. You can also purchase her DVD's through PBS if you like - I just taped several of the sessions and am doing my own thing. I might eventually purchase one of her DVD's on her website. Makes a lot of sense to me, the difference between staying mobile or ending up in a wheelchair because your body has atrophied.

Re: Keeping your mobility

software — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:02:02 GMT

That's how dancers stay in such great shape into their 60s, 70s and beyond.

There is a program on my PBS station "Sit & Be Fit" It's similar but you can do everything from a sitting position. It's better than nothing!

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
There is currently a PBS show called "Classical Stretch". The woman emphasizes how stretching keeps our joints mobile and fluid as we age. Today I started my own stretching session - going to do 1/2 hour every day and then my treadmill in the afternoon. Just doing some of the simple stretches shown on the PBS special has loosened the tightness in my hands. You can also purchase her DVD's through PBS if you like - I just taped several of the sessions and am doing my own thing. I might eventually purchase one of her DVD's on her website. Makes a lot of sense to me, the difference between staying mobile or ending up in a wheelchair because your body has atrophied.

Re: Keeping your mobility

StylishLady — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:04:41 GMT

Classical Stretch is one of the TV work out routines, I've done mornings. It is good low impact exercise,especially for this 82 year old. I also have some recorded work outs that I can use when I don't get it on a TV broadcast. Keep up the good work, you will feel better about it.

Re: Keeping your mobility

Zhills — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 15:15:45 GMT

Silver Sneakers has classes here at our clubhouse. It is called chair Yoga or just stretching and mobility. Really makes it easy to attend when it's a couple of blocks away.

Several of the 55+ communities near here have these. She is a certified instructor and Insurance pays for it!

Re: Keeping your mobility

qvcaddition — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 16:20:22 GMT

I do PEGGY CAPPY,(sp)? Yoga for everybody and her one for arthritis. I saw it on PBS years ago and brought from AMAZON. It is like a great stretch Yoga. You can do it with a chair. I am 80. I will walk the treadmill, do my bike, the yoga or Jane Fonda weight tape. Also the gym three times a week. I,'ve had to cut back to these after years of running, and Zumba, etc. Exercise will keep you strong, no matter how much or how little. JUST DO SOMETHING. Happy to hear you all our doing it. Makes your mind feel positive and you have a better day, especially if you can do it first thing in the morning..

Re: Keeping your mobility

SilleeMee — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:08:30 GMT

I have scleroderma so most of my joints have limited mobility. The joints in my hands (fingers) and my wrists do not move at all...they have become "fixed" like a mannequin's hands. My rheumy has advised me to do specific stretching maneuvers in order to keep the rest of me from becoming frozen. I fear this very much because this disease is progressive. There are many movements that I can not do. Physical therapists have a difficult time with scleroderma people because of the fixed joints. I try very hard to stay as mobile as I can....for now anyway.

Enjoy your stretching!

Re: Keeping your mobility

Lilysmom — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:11:59 GMT

I'm a pilates lover from way back. I love my Aeropilates. Stretching is so good for the body. LM

Re: Keeping your mobility

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 17:15:44 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I have scleroderma so most of my joints have limited mobility. The joints in my hands (fingers) and my wrists do not move at all...they have become "fixed" like a mannequin's hands. My rheumy has advised me to do specific stretching maneuvers in order to keep the rest of me from becoming frozen. I fear this very much because this disease is progressive. There are many movements that I can not do. Physical therapists have a difficult time with scleroderma people because of the fixed joints. I try very hard to stay as mobile as I can....for now anyway.

Enjoy your stretching!

@SilleeMee - Sorry to hear about your condition. You might check out PBS for this program - it is very uncomplicated and I think you could go at your own pace.

Re: Keeping your mobility

hckynut — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 04:08:56 GMT

@hoosieroriginal

Stretching was something I first heard in the late 1960's. There were very few interested enough to look for information that was available, although at that time it was pretty scarce.

I was fortunate to search long enough to find a noted Exercise Physiologist's papers, and a book he had written devoted primarily how to get muscles and connective tissues to respond better to vigorous exercise with the minimal chance of of being injured.

He conducted hundreds of studies on thousands of athletes from all different types of competitive sports to attain his studies results. I was also fortunate to attend, over the years, 2 of his day long Seminars/Clinics and talk with him personally about my personal experiences, along with getting answers to some questions I had at the time.

For me it was simple after learning from him the basics of the human physiology, and how and what were the most important factors of gaining and maintaining the maximum amount of injury free performance from almost all of my muscle groups, connected by tendons and ligaments.

For me this stretching was as, or more important to me than my performances, be it speed or muscle endurance, sans injury. As I have aged it is easy to see my mobility and flexibility in relation to many that participated in the same physical activities as did I. They did not believe in putting in the necessary time, both before and after, to keep their muscles/connective tissues and joints from sustaining some micro injuries. Later in their lives this lack of spending time doing preventive stretching exercises, have created chronic joint problems along with flexibility and mobility.

Many have asked me how I was able to run so many miles and hours without major injuries to my knees. For me it was/is a very simple answer. I learned earlier than many and believed and practice regularly the movements that were what sustained my mobility.

hckynut(john)

Re: Keeping your mobility

hoosieroriginal — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:44:03 GMT

@hckynut wrote:

@hoosieroriginal

Stretching was something I first heard in the late 1960's. There were very few interested enough to look for information that was available, although at that time it was pretty scarce.

I was fortunate to search long enough to find a noted Exercise Physiologist's papers, and a book he had written devoted primarily how to get muscles and connective tissues to respond better to vigorous exercise with the minimal chance of of being injured.

He conducted hundreds of studies on thousands of athletes from all different types of competitive sports to attain his studies results. I was also fortunate to attend, over the years, 2 of his day long Seminars/Clinics and talk with him personally about my personal experiences, along with getting answers to some questions I had at the time.

For me it was simple after learning from him the basics of the human physiology, and how and what were the most important factors of gaining and maintaining the maximum amount of injury free performance from almost all of my muscle groups, connected by tendons and ligaments.

For me this stretching was as, or more important to me than my performances, be it speed or muscle endurance, sans injury. As I have aged it is easy to see my mobility and flexibility in relation to many that participated in the same physical activities as did I. They did not believe in putting in the necessary time, both before and after, to keep their muscles/connective tissues and joints from sustaining some micro injuries. Later in their lives this lack of spending time doing preventive stretching exercises, have created chronic joint problems along with flexibility and mobility.

Many have asked me how I was able to run so many miles and hours without major injuries to my knees. For me it was/is a very simple answer. I learned earlier than many and believed and practice regularly the movements that were what sustained my mobility.

hckynut(john)

@hckynut - Good to hear from you John! I have been doing my stretching just this week and already am noticing a difference. My knees are not hurting me at night and my hands are less stiff. I think stretching has been terribly underplayed in the exercise routine.

Re: Keeping your mobility

hckynut — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 23:25:08 GMT

@hoosieroriginal

@hckynut - Good to hear from you John! I have been doing my stretching just this week and already am noticing a difference. My knees are not hurting me at night and my hands are less stiff. I think stretching has been terribly underplayed in the exercise routine.

@hoosieroriginal

Thank you for your kind welcome I sincerely appreciate it. I am glad you feel some benefits from your stretching in such a short time. From your comment I am assuming you just began this program a week ago.

I don't remember which program you mentioned so I will add this. NEVER/EVER try to stretch when your muscles and blood have not warmed up. Many feel that stretching as soon as they get out of bed is a good thing, and it is not.

You blood temperature decreases while you sleep and cold blood in cold muscles can easily create unnecessary risks of injuring them. Wait till you have moved around before you make any attempt to stretch any muscle group. There is a reason that nowadays, as opposed to decades ago, you see athletes in all sports warm up before competing.

Stick with what feels like a comfortable stretch and you will gradually see how much further you are able to stretch those same muscles than at the beginning of your program. It should never be painful to stretch any muscle that has not been injured. You will know where safe stretching ends and possible injuries begin.

My best to you,

hckynut(john)

Re: Keeping your mobility

cotton4me — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 16:32:35 GMT

@hoosieroriginal

Thanks for mentioning this program. I watched it today and got quite the workout. Wow, and I thought I was in good shape. I need to add stretching to my daily routine. She has some great movements. I might order some of her CD’s. I can see where it would make a big difference in mobility as we age.

Re: Keeping your mobility

hoosieroriginal — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 17:37:11 GMT

@cotton4me wrote:
@hoosieroriginal

Thanks for mentioning this program. I watched it today and got quite the workout. Wow, and I thought I was in good shape. I need to add stretching to my daily routine. She has some great movements. I might order some of her CD’s. I can see where it would make a big difference in mobility as we age.

@cotton4me- You're welcome - I'm seeing quite a difference myself in my stiffness and mobility. I would like to get her tapes too - they are on amazon and I believe she has a website. Just the hand stretches have made a huge difference! I was having a hard time opening jars.