My Son Told Me He Wants Me To Get Out And Walk More Because I'm Starting To Walk Like An Old Lady

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

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New Jersey
He said I'm beginning to walk hunched over, then leaped in the air saying "I want you to be active like this!" When he landed he made a groaning sound, pretending he hurt his knee. He's so silly. :LOL: I wasn't upset that he said that to me. In fact, I was grateful that he pointed it out. I don't want to be that hunched over old lady. I used to tell my husband the same thing and I did it because I cared. I've been trying to remember to walk upright since I told my husband to "stand up straight". That had to have been several years ago because he's been gone 4 years. I'll have to be even more cognizant of standing and walking upright now.

I knew a lady and a man who were actually bent over when they walked. I don't know what their medical issues were but it was obvious their conditions were caused by an ailment and out of their control. Do you know anyone who walks hunched over?
 

Bonjour cher Madame:

My Mom had this, evidenced by stooping over, gait, loss of height.
Women are more susceptible due to hormone changes with age.
May be osteoporosis, arthritis, or chronic disease affecting the spine.
Early signs of neurodegenerative disease can also affect the gait.

Suggest an exam by a an orthopedic /spine specialist first, followup with neuro if indicated.
Possibly certain Supplements, vitamins Posture, exercise and diet can slow or improve.
I am mid 70s, try to walk 5..10 km /day, weather permitting. Plus stationary bike , tension band/pulley exercise for upper body.

Bon chance et Bon Sante!

Jon
 
I've been exercising for at least an hour a day, for years. I'm no athlete, but I'm in pretty good shape for a 70 year old.

Before Christmas I caught a cold, then I felt lazy. I started exercising again yesterday, after 8 or 9 days without exercise. I'm so out of shape after that brief rest!

So I've learned, I need to do *some* exercise every day. Unless I'm really too sick to move.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
Do you know anyone who walks hunched over?
Click to expand...
I do a little, bad knees to blame. For many years I could not straighten my knees. Now I can and am trying to correct my posture, but its hard. Not that I can't walk upright it just isn't what my body has been doing for a long time. Had both my orthopedist and physical therapist look at it, they said it's now all in my brain. Retraining to walk straight is harder than I thought it would. I was probably not as bent over as the folks you mentioned, but I noticed it.

Your son's advice is good, walking and making sure you are looking straight ahead and not down will be good for you! That is what I am trying to do, its just hard to remember...
 
I saw a lot of people walking bent over when I worked in nursing homes. So I always have made the effort, even though using a walker (especially using a walker) to look ahead and never down at my feet. Keep shoulders back and stomach in. I always walk that way even if tired or hurting.
 
I have to really make an effort to not walk bent over, reminding myself to stand up, chest out, etc. But I do have to also watch where I am stepping because I seem to fall down pretty easily when stepping on uneven ground or tripping on a lump in the grass. Years ago there was an exercise that strengthened my back muscles and made standing up straight easy, but the last time I did the exercise (years ago) it caused a shoulder impingement type of pain and so I never tried doing it again (and got a shot in my shoulder to fix it).
 
Jean-Paul said:
Bonjour cher Madame:

My Mom had this, evidenced by stooping over, gait, loss of height.
Women are more susceptible due to hormone changes with age.
May be osteoporosis, arthritis, or chronic disease affecting the spine.
Early signs of neurodegenerative disease can also affect the gait.

Suggest an exam by a an orthopedic /spine specialist first, followup with neuro if indicated.
Possibly certain Supplements, vitamins Posture, exercise and diet can slow or improve.
I am mid 70s, try to walk 5..10 km /day, weather permitting. Plus stationary bike , tension band/pulley exercise for upper body.

Bon chance et Bon Sante!

Jon
Click to expand...
Bonjour cher monsieur. Thank you for the tips. I don't have osteoporosis but do have the precursor osteopenia which I've been getting treatment for for several years. From my last bone density test I know there has been a slight change in my neck region. I do need to exercise more. Once I get on a kick to do it, something happens. 😒 My gait does seem to be a bit off lately but I assumed it's because of a visual and balance issues which I've had for awhile.

@BC Flash I eat a lot of calcium rich foods so my last bloodwork showed that my calcium levels were on the high side.
@Alligatorob Ever since my falls, I do walk looking down. I've fallen twice because I didn't notice irregularities in the pavement and one of those bumpy pieces they add to the end of flattened down curbs. Each time I really hurt myself.
@Tish Ballet class?! I'm impressed. @NorthernLight I'm also impressed by your regimen!
@RadishRose and @Pepper Thank you for the nice comments about my son❣️
 
Posture is super important in dancing. Same with modeling. I used to model in my younger years and I’ve been a dancer for the last 20 so I feel like I’ve paid attention to my posture my whole life!

I’m tall for a woman, and was always the tallest person in my class as a kid. It was something I was very self-conscious about and I would often slump, trying to make myself look smaller. My Dad would gently prod me in the back, reminding me to stand tall and proud!

All of those things combined resulted in a very straight posture. I have long legs and therefore a long stride, and walk very erect with my shoulders back. I often find I need to adjust my stride so that others can keep up with me lol!
 
silly but true...

Quantifying the benefits of inefficient walking: Monty Python inspired laboratory based experimental study

https://www.bmj.com/content/379/bmj-2022-072833

"Conclusions For adults with no known gait disorder who average approximately 5000 steps/day, exchanging about 22%-34% of their daily steps with higher energy, low efficiency walking in Teabag style—requiring around 12-19 min—could increase daily EE by 100 kcal. Adults could achieve 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity per week by walking inefficiently for about 11 min/day. Had an initiative to promote inefficient movement been adopted in the early 1970s, we might now be living among a healthier society. Efforts to promote higher energy—and perhaps more joyful—walking should ensure inclusivity and inefficiency for all."

i hop around a lot working with large timber or rotting wood at micro-geoengineering project sites and seeing this article finally provides a way to describe some of the (e)motions involved.
 
Haha! MY Son told me "Wow! You sure are spry for your age!"
I don't use the word "spry". I use the word "agile".

Anyway Diva, When you stand up throw your shoulders back,
hold your head high as if you're ready to fly.
Walk like a princess entering a ballroom full of people.
or
Charge into the storm as if you own it!
Pretend like you're 30 years old!
or you're running up San Juan Hill!
Posture makes a difference. It really does!
 

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