Re: Through Technology to Obesity

[Guest guest]

> Yet another high tech solution to mobility hits the news, as reported on the

> following web page. Do we in the modern world really need another vehicle to

> make healthy humans even less reliant on the gift of walking?

<http://www.segway.com/consumer/home_flash.html>

Ben Freeman reply:

*** this 'thing' appeared on our televisions here Down Under in the last

couple of days - I laughed

> NEW YORK -- Two prominent venture capital firms and a group of individual

> investors hope the new Segway " human transporter " takes them places - and

> they've got $90 million riding on it.

Ben Freeman reply:

*** last line of the above statement explains everything we need to know.

Regards

Ben Freeman

Melbourne, Australia

[Guest guest]

Ben Freeman <benfreeman@a...> wrote:

> > Yet another high tech solution to mobility hits the news, as reported on the

> > following web page. Do we in the modern world really need another vehicle

to

> > make healthy humans even less reliant on the gift of walking?

>

> <http://www.segway.com/consumer/home_flash.html>

Not so fast Ben, I am a healthy, fit 44 year old with severe osteoarthritis in

my left

knee, making walking any distance at all a very painfull situation.

Yet I can stand at work for long hours as long as I can shift around.

I am too young for a knee replacement and too proud for a wheelchair

so going places with my family can be a bit of a problem. This looks

like an innovative solution to people in my situation.I am interested

in finding out more about it. Remember, the gift of walking is not

something we all have access too.

Plus, it looks like fun.

[Remember that avoidance of regular, mild exercise has never been shown to

solve any chronic musculoskeletal problem. My paraplegic wife really does

notice

an increase in pain and decrease in her functioning if she does not exercise

regularly,

even though she suffers from severe daily chronic pain. Maybe we need to

initiate a

discussion on the management of osteoarthritis for you and others who may profit

from such a discussion. Mel Siff]

Mark Reifkind

San USA

[Guest guest]

Mark Reifkind:

> making walking any distance at all a very painfull situation.

> Yet I can stand at work for long hours as long as I can shift around.

Dr Siff wrote:

> [Remember that avoidance of regular, mild exercise has never been shown to

> solve any chronic musculoskeletal problem. My paraplegic wife really does

notice

> an increase in pain and decrease in her functioning if she does not exercise

regularly,

> even though she suffers from severe daily chronic pain. Maybe we need to

initiate a

> discussion on the management of osteoarthritis for you and others who may

profit

> from such a discussion. Mel Siff]

I am not sure what you are getting at Dr Siff.I train regularly with

weights and floor exercises,and walk at work for 8-10 hours per day.

It is just the condition of the severly arthritic, bone on bone knee

that makes continuous walking so painful as not not be feasible.

[All I am stressing is that, no matter how painful, don't lose the urge to

exercise, because lack of movement has never solved the problem. We are

delighted to hear that this has not been the case! Mel Siff]

I would love however to see a discussion on the management of osteoarthritis.

Mark Reifkind

San USA