"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones" "The shoulder bone connected to the hip bone."
So goes the old spiritual, "Dem Dry Bones". It's not one of the real verses, but it should be. The actual verse is "your thigh bone connected to your hip bone, your hip bone connected to your backbone, your backbone connected to your shoulder bone."
It's not too far off. The only thing separating the shoulder bone and hip bone is the back bone. All the bones are connected in some way. Anyhow, I find that "the shoulder bone connected to the hip bone" works for me.
I discovered, on my own, that as my shoulder twists toward the back, my hip automatically engages, lifting my thigh, bending my knee and propelling me forward. It's not the prettiest of gaits, but it's one of the most effective walking styles to date that I have adopted (and I have tried many).
When I turn my shoulder, I raise my hand on impulse due to my spasticity, as if I'm always saying "Hi" to a friend. Though, if I really concentrate, and breathe, my arm and hand will drop down along my side. But only for a while, and then it tenses up again and returns to its old spastic self.
What sparked this revelation was last month's stint at St. Augustine University therapy sessions, when the students asked me to step up onto a plastic rise about 6 inches high. But even after all the pre-gait preparations, I couldn't do it without them manipulating my hip flexor. Then it was like magic.
When I think of all the times I'd attempted that exercise, I was frustrated by the fact that I could not lift my foot. But this time was different. They must've hit the right button because I was able to bend my knee and lift my foot several times in succession.
So goes the old spiritual, "Dem Dry Bones". It's not one of the real verses, but it should be. The actual verse is "your thigh bone connected to your hip bone, your hip bone connected to your backbone, your backbone connected to your shoulder bone."
It's not too far off. The only thing separating the shoulder bone and hip bone is the back bone. All the bones are connected in some way. Anyhow, I find that "the shoulder bone connected to the hip bone" works for me.
I discovered, on my own, that as my shoulder twists toward the back, my hip automatically engages, lifting my thigh, bending my knee and propelling me forward. It's not the prettiest of gaits, but it's one of the most effective walking styles to date that I have adopted (and I have tried many).
When I turn my shoulder, I raise my hand on impulse due to my spasticity, as if I'm always saying "Hi" to a friend. Though, if I really concentrate, and breathe, my arm and hand will drop down along my side. But only for a while, and then it tenses up again and returns to its old spastic self.
What sparked this revelation was last month's stint at St. Augustine University therapy sessions, when the students asked me to step up onto a plastic rise about 6 inches high. But even after all the pre-gait preparations, I couldn't do it without them manipulating my hip flexor. Then it was like magic.
When I think of all the times I'd attempted that exercise, I was frustrated by the fact that I could not lift my foot. But this time was different. They must've hit the right button because I was able to bend my knee and lift my foot several times in succession.
Mechanics of Walking Dr. Rebecca Estes, the former OT professor at St. Augustine's, explained to me once that the upper body has to be involved as part of the walking mechanism. She thought I could start to achieve that by having someone hold my hand and swing my arm as I walked. This causes my scapula to shift over as my shoulder moves. That's the way I understand it.
That was back in the winter of 2016. Now I have figured out how I can move the shoulder on its own, by means described above.
That was back in the winter of 2016. Now I have figured out how I can move the shoulder on its own, by means described above.
Pillar of Discarded Crutches and Canes I feel so confident, that I retired my cane for the time being, maybe for good. Thanks to the PT students and Dr. Barta at St. Augustine's, I have developed skills to improve my gait and balance, and tackle the uphills and downhills with safety in mind.
When I go to the gym, or anywhere, I can forget my cane. One week has passed without using it. As I trudge up the driveway to my truck, I think of how I used to walk with my cane and how it's a lot better without it. Now, I have two free hands.
What I've learned from all this is that it's taken me forever to put the pieces together to get this far. Post stroke is as much mental as it is physical. One has to work his way back through much trial and error. But now I think I'm on the right path to ambulatory health and well-being. It's only a matter of time when the brain snaps to what I'm trying to do and gets on board to help me. By creating new neural pathways, it will make walking feel more natural, again.
So until next time, Sports, keep on trucking.
When I go to the gym, or anywhere, I can forget my cane. One week has passed without using it. As I trudge up the driveway to my truck, I think of how I used to walk with my cane and how it's a lot better without it. Now, I have two free hands.
What I've learned from all this is that it's taken me forever to put the pieces together to get this far. Post stroke is as much mental as it is physical. One has to work his way back through much trial and error. But now I think I'm on the right path to ambulatory health and well-being. It's only a matter of time when the brain snaps to what I'm trying to do and gets on board to help me. By creating new neural pathways, it will make walking feel more natural, again.
So until next time, Sports, keep on trucking.
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