Using a cane or a crutch when you have an injury can be very confusing especially when characters on TV shows don’t even use them right! So let me show you how to walk with a cane correctly. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes very easy and natural. When we walk normally, our opposite arm swings forward with our opposite leg. When using a cane, you want the same technique so you don’t risk injuring something else while you are recovering.
The most important part to start with is to make sure your cane is the right height. Most canes have a pin you can push in to change the height. On your upper leg there is a bone that sticks out called your greater trochanter. It is just below your hip. This is where you want the top of the cane. You should have a slight bend in your elbow about 20 degrees. If the cane is too high, you might irritate your shoulder, and if it is too low, you might lean over too much.
Now for the walking part. The cane should be in the opposite hand of the injured side. Yes, House, MD did it wrong! The cane should always move with the injured side. If the injured side goes forward, the cane goes forward for support. Again, this is how our bodies naturally move; so don’t think about it too much. Just move how you would normally move. The cane should be for balance and safety, and if you feel like you are pushing really hard on it, or if you can’t walk smoothly, then you probably are not ready for a cane yet.
This standing exercise routine for seniors can help loosen up and strengthen the muscles in the neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees, and ankles. This routine is performed in real-time, so it’s easy to follow along.
It’s Lower Body Isometric Exercises Day in my Whole Body Wellness Challenge for beginners! This real-time isometric routine is simple, but effective in helping strengthen the lower body & relieve pain.
Doctor Jo shows you three simple chest stretches to get your muscles loosened up if you have tight chest muscles or sore pectorals (pectoralis) from a workout.
If you're a truck driver or a delivery driver, sitting all day can put a lot of stress on your body, especially your back, bottom, legs, and hips. These stretches and exercises are a great way to help keep your body moving for all kinds of drivers and anyone who sits a lot throughout the day.
Hot & cold therapy can help the healing process during an injury, and it can also help reduce acute and chronic pain. But which one should you use? Here are some general rules for using hot verses cold.
The pelvic floor muscles are often overlooked, and people don’t think about strengthening them. Since the pelvic floor muscles are small, it doesn’t take a lot of movement to work them, so it’s best to start with a little and slowly progress.
We squat every day from sitting down in a chair to getting out of bed, or even sitting safely on the toilet, but squats can be a painful task when something hurts, or our muscles are weak. Practicing squats in a reverse order can help strengthen the muscles and work on doing them correctly and safely.
Living with fibromyalgia and other chronic pain conditions can be an overwhelming experience, characterized by widespread pain that affects various parts of the body. One of the most beneficial approaches to help manage this pain is to incorporate gentle standing stretches and exercises into your daily routine.
BPPV, or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, can literally stop you in your tracks. Hopefully this vertigo treatment with Brandt Daroff exercises will help. As always, make sure you are properly diagnosed because vertigo symptoms can be coming from something more serious.
