Balance and Neuropathy

[J-Blade]

7 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I do not know in depth about Pickleball but get the general gist of the game. Around here in this retirement mecca it seems to be popular now. Several municipalities here have converted Tennis courts to Pickleball and new ones are being constructed.

On the negative side I saw a news report on injuries increasing among seniors playing pickleball. I know one of the guys in my golf league his wife fell last week playing pickleball and broke her wrist and ulna. But then again us seniors could fall going into the grocery store and do the same thing.

In my case, I was goaded into playing pickleball by my daughter in law, a water polo coach...Fortunately, I came away with only a skinned knee. 

[J-Blade]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

Sorry, no.  When I chose my screen name, I happened to own a Porsche Cayenne Turbo.  Enthusiasts coined them Pepperturbo.

Got it.. Love the Cayenne/pepper reference. 

[Pepperturbo]

12 minutes ago, J-Blade said:

In my case, I was goaded into playing pickleball by my daughter in law, a water polo coach...Fortunately, I came away with only a skinned knee. 

I can see how that happened. 🙂

 

I know a number of guys and gals that have taken up Pickleball thinking it's easier.  Boy did they have a rude awaking. Picklers are #1 at filling ER's. LOL.  

[NRJyzr]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

I can see how that happened. 🙂

 

I know a number of guys and gals that have taken up Pickleball thinking it's easier.  Boy did they have a rude awaking. Picklers are #1 at filling ER's. LOL.  

 

A friend of my wife is an ER nurse, and when another friend was talking to my wife about trying pickleball, immediately mentioned the amazing number of pickleball players she was seeing....

 

Wife lost interest at that point.  LOL

 

[Pepperturbo]

26 minutes ago, NRJyzr said:

 

A friend of my wife is an ER nurse, and when another friend was talking to my wife about trying pickleball, immediately mentioned the amazing number of pickleball players she was seeing....

 

Wife lost interest at that point.  LOL

 

My wife is a jock, she not only golfs, but is a tennis player who found she enjoys chasing a pickle too.  LOL

[NRJyzr]

55 minutes ago, Pepperturbo said:

My wife is a jock, she not only golfs, but is a tennis player who found she enjoys chasing a pickle too.  LOL

 

What worried my wife was the large amount of wrist injuries her friend told her about, much less the knee issues she was also told about.  She's a runner, but her knees are occasionally a problem; add in the wrist injuries and <poof> goes the interest level.   LOL

 

Edited April 11, 2024 by NRJyzr

[596]

I'm 69.  My right leg is 1" shorter then the left.  This was caused by getting hit by a car many moons ago directing traffic as a cop.  The last neurologist that looked at my spinal MRI actually asked me if I could walk.  I have 3 pinched nerves and a pinched spinal cord. My feet are numb all the time with frequent pain and walking on marbles.  My back hurts 24/7 and I get radiating pain in my hips, legs, arms and chest.  Some evenings are bad enough that I can hardly walk.  My neurosurgeon visit is in 5 weeks after waiting 9 months to see him. 

 

I still walk the course 3 to 4 days every week.  I've gone to light weight graphite shafts.  I also cycle 2 to 3 days a week (30 to 50 miles a week).  I've gone to a gravel bike with RedShift shock stem and shock seatpost to reduce the shock up my spine.  

 

I was told to not stop cycling and golfing.  If I stop my back will basically lock up from the all the damage. I can still score under par sometimes.  But I love walking to play and cycling.  So I put up with the bad evenings!

 

 

Edited April 11, 2024 by 596

[BIG STU]

23 hours ago, J-Blade said:

Thanks, BCstones... I'm a firm believer in Arnie's "Swing your swing" theory, so a lot of that works for me. 

 

My wife had the inner ear stones thing a few years ago, but that was more vertigo than balance. Mine is probably more a result of toe numbness and balance when I try to make athletic moves or turn fast. Pickle ball last year was not a good idea...

I have always believed in what Mr. Palmer said. LOL it got me into trouble with a certain guru over in the I&A forums along with some of his disciples

[NRJyzr]

On 4/10/2024 at 5:53 PM, J-Blade said:

I'm a firm believer in Arnie's "Swing your swing" theory, so a lot of that works for me. 

 

1 hour ago, BIG STU said:

I have always believed in what Mr. Palmer said. LOL it got me into trouble with a certain guru over in the I&A forums along with some of his disciples

 

 

My swing is not what I'd call attractive, being what I call "John Daly Lite;" all the swing length, 99% less talent (none of the bad habits either).  I've tried *many* time to cut it down, it never works for me no matter how long I stick with it.

 

So I wallow in this past parallel thing I have going.  🙂

 

[bcstones]

8 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

Next time, leave your assumptions out of what you read, maybe then you'll realize a statement is just that.  

When I read ShortGolfer's post, all I got was that a fellow human being, @5'2" & 110 lbs post stroke, had balance issues & wearing high heels helped....gender never entered my mind till I read your response. So I questioned why you assumed a male gender......btw - you never answered my question

[Lobby]

Those of us over 65 in the US are on Medicare. One of its benefits is gym membership. 
 

Go to a gym and find a personal trainer. Get a stretching program and core strength exercises 

 

This has helped me a lot

[J-Blade]

1 hour ago, Lobby said:

Those of us over 65 in the US are on Medicare. One of its benefits is gym membership. 
 

Go to a gym and find a personal trainer. Get a stretching program and core strength exercises 

 

This has helped me a lot

Yep, our Medicare Advantage plan includes a free gym membership. I haven't worked with a trainer as that is out of pocket and not covered, but it sounds like a good idea. 

[Curmudg3on]

I recently was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.  Compression socks, especially the Copper ones make some difference in my feet.   I have stinging in my feet and it feels like the outside of my right foot is always on the edge of the shoe's insole.   I can see where balance could be affected.   

 

Good luck with your future endeavors. 

[Pepperturbo]

18 hours ago, bcstones said:

When I read ShortGolfer's post, all I got was that a fellow human being, @5'2" & 110 lbs post stroke, had balance issues & wearing high heels helped....gender never entered my mind till I read your response. So I questioned why you assumed a male gender......btw - you never answered my question

Don't need to if you reread my statement, without adding bias.  You have a good day.

[Pepperturbo]

21 hours ago, 596 said:

I'm 69.  My right leg is 1" shorter then the left.  This was caused by getting hit by a car many moons ago directing traffic as a cop.  The last neurologist that looked at my spinal MRI actually asked me if I could walk.  I have 3 pinched nerves and a pinched spinal cord. My feet are numb all the time with frequent pain and walking on marbles.  My back hurts 24/7 and I get radiating pain in my hips, legs, arms and chest.  Some evenings are bad enough that I can hardly walk.  My neurosurgeon visit is in 5 weeks after waiting 9 months to see him. 

 

I still walk the course 3 to 4 days every week.  I've gone to light weight graphite shafts.  I also cycle 2 to 3 days a week (30 to 50 miles a week).  I've gone to a gravel bike with RedShift shock stem and shock seatpost to reduce the shock up my spine.  

 

I was told to not stop cycling and golfing.  If I stop my back will basically lock up from the all the damage. I can still score under par sometimes.  But I love walking to play and cycling.  So I put up with the bad evenings!

 

 

I understand.  When a person is used to doing certain things, telling him to stop those things doesn't easily compute. 

 

Many years back, as a special skill's contractor, after a serious mountain accident, I was told to give up whatever necessitated me training in snow-covered mountains.  Even though I did, and my skills have somewhat deteriorated and too old for the work, it's regularly on my mind, still.

[596]

2 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

I understand.  When a person is used to doing certain things, telling him to stop those things doesn't easily compute. 

 

Many years back, as a special skill's contractor, after a serious mountain accident, I was told to give up whatever necessitated me training in snow-covered mountains.  Even though I did, and my skills have somewhat deteriorated and too old for the work, it's regularly on my mind, still.

I gave up running and racing triathlons, had to give up National Ski Patrol (due to 2 titanium hips) and also had to give up Certified Rescue Diver, Dive Master.  The back injury progressively got worse, along with retiring,  to the point I'm left with golf, cycling and fishing.  Life ain't too bad!

[Pepperturbo]

18 hours ago, 596 said:

I gave up running and racing triathlons, had to give up National Ski Patrol (due to 2 titanium hips) and also had to give up Certified Rescue Diver, Dive Master.  The back injury progressively got worse, along with retiring,  to the point I'm left with golf, cycling and fishing.  Life ain't too bad!

Agree.  Nice background, and fun activities to be left with.

 

Thank God for golf. 🙂  I haven't been large game hunting in years or fishing since I sold my sport fisher.  My wife wants to spend some time living aboard and cruise the coast, do some deep-sea fishing too, so we've been looking at boats. Life is indeed good. 😊

[Pepperturbo]

1 hour ago, Jugs said:

 

Would appreciate your thoughts on what might be better for strengthening legs without harmful knee wear, squats with our own body weight, or stationary cycle with resistance. 

Squats work, but stationary cycle daily or every other day IMO is better.  I wouldn't use any resistance until your quads/legs are seriously strong.  Years back, before golf, I was a hardcore CAT cyclist, quads were powerful.  Still strong today, but age has its consequences.

[ezgoer]

  YouTube reverse knee lunges. I don’t have the greatest of knees. Babying them over the years I lost a lot of leg strength. I’ve been doing variations of this exercise for a couple years now with very noticeable results. 
  Regular forward lunges can be very hard on your knees but reverse are much easier on them. Just do body weight at first. Go as low as feels comfortable and at a comfortable speed. Will not only work on leg strength but balance also. Use aids to help balance at first, chair, railing,wall etc..

Edited May 11, 2024 by ezgoer

[ezgoer]

This is gonna sound preachy as hell and I don’t mean it to be. If one is carrying extra weight that should be the first place to concentrate all your energy. It’s so damn hard to eat healthy and proper. We are marketed too every waking hour of the day and few things as much as food! It sucks to think about but the lighter one can be, with in reason, the stronger one can be especially as we age. Sorry to say this but it has to be said.

Off my soapbox now……

[596]

3 hours ago, Jugs said:

 

Would appreciate your thoughts on what might be better for strengthening legs without harmful knee wear, squats with our own body weight, or stationary cycle with resistance. 

Cycling is a great way to increase leg strength. I have 2 titanium hips. Since I can no longer run I cycle 3 days a week.  2 days is virtual reality cycling in the garage, 10 to 15 miles per day with lots of climbing using Fulgaz and a Wahoo Kickr bike and 1 day is 25 to 30 miles outdoors on a gravel bike. I'm not at all into gym stuff, I hate pushing weights.  

 

I golf the other 3 to 4 days a week and always walk. 

[J-Blade]

 

Not preachy at all.. Good advice.. 

 

I'm going back to the gym to do treadmill and the cycles. 

 

Thankfully, my balance hasn't been as big an issue as I had assumed. I widened my stance, which I know limits my hip turn, but so be it. Oh, and shortened my backswing, as suggested too. 

Edited May 11, 2024 by J-Blade

[bcstones]

33 minutes ago, Jugs said:

 

Sounds good, thank you.  On the stationary cycle does it make any difference pedaling forward or backward in terms of what muscles are being used.  I started doing the cycle both forward and backward but wondering if one direction is sufficient for general, overall, leg strengthening for golf walking.      What say you CAT?

Not sure what kind of stationary cycle you have - recumbent or standard...nor just how complicated the unit is, ie does it show the cadence & can it change from flat to hilly workouts? At any rate, it will work all leg muscles quite well. I have never heard of pedaling backwards, I can't think of any muscle group that would have been different than forward pedaling.
Prior to an accident 33 years ago, I cycled some 3,000 - 5,000 miles ayear in Minnesota. Post accident, w/a rebuilt knee, switched to long wheel-base recumbent cycle, where the knee is less stressed.
fyi...a recreational cadence is ~60 cycles/minute, a touring cadence ~90 & racing cadence ~120....

 

So stick to forward stationay cycling, go out & have fun w/the Game of Golf

[ShortGolfer]

I do a ton of gardening while squatting low to the ground.  I can do this for hours!

Sure beats bending over!  Or using a potting bench and putting plants to work on at an easy height. 

Sitting at a bench doesn't provide the exercise of squatting low to the ground.

I also prune plants at all heights.  I recently cut down a tree limb by holding my arms straight and lifting my feet up and down!

Best way to reach the tree limb as I can stand on the ground.

I'm learning how trees react to different pruning techniques.  Such as reduction cuts.

 

Edited May 18, 2024 by ShortGolfer

[Pepperturbo]

3 hours ago, Jugs said:

 

Sounds good, thank you.  On the stationary cycle does it make any difference pedaling forward or backward in terms of what muscles are being used.  I started doing the cycle both forward and backward but wondering if one direction is sufficient for general, overall, leg strengthening for golf walking.      What say you CAT?

Over all the years as a cyclist, training and competing, and using stationary bikes at the gym, the only time I reverse pedal is when relaxing the quad burn.  There's no way to actually benefit from backpedaling and as there's no way to impart or vary force. 

 

However, reversing motion or cross-training on an elliptical (I do 20+ mins) can have beneficial results; what exactly that means muscle wise is different muscles are affected, which, can't say.  

Edited May 18, 2024 by Pepperturbo

[bcstones]

1 hour ago, Pepperturbo said:

elliptical

what is an elliptical machine?

[Pepperturbo]

6 minutes ago, bcstones said:

what is an elliptical machine?

LOL that isn't a real question????

 

The elliptical machine is for cardio, minor leg strengthening.  Cycling is much better for quads and knee strengthening, plus cardio.

Edited May 18, 2024 by Pepperturbo

[mocokid]

17 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

LOL that isn't a real question????

 

The elliptical machine is for cardio, minor leg strengthening.  Cycling is much better for quads and knee strengthening, plus cardio.

I find 10 minutes on elliptical after golf, helps my hips and gait. Golf swing has lateral motion so elliptical helps to 'straighten' my walk.  Agree on the cycling,  good for arthritic knees. 

[Pepperturbo]

2 hours ago, mocokid said:

I find 10 minutes on elliptical after golf, helps my hips and gait. Golf swing has lateral motion so elliptical helps to 'straighten' my walk.  Agree on the cycling,  good for arthritic knees. 

Agree.  The Elliptical is good, but a hip abductor machine is fantastic for aligning and strengthening hips.  Keep at it. 🙂

 

[bcstones]

22 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

LOL that isn't a real question????

yes, it's a real question....I still don't know what it is. I've had experiences on both the standard & recumbent stationary bikes, also the stairstep, & treadmill.The last gym I attended probably had all those things, but I was there for the swimming pool & circuit workout.