Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Ed, Had to laugh at your " duck walk " description. It brought back memories! Some called it the " ape walk " , too! LOL Sure was glad when the " non-human " walk disappeared! Gross 6/12/03 RHR C2K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Ed, The duck walk is very familiar to me and one I am fighting to halt.........just about got it licked now......... It actually happens because that little muscle down the back of the hip is weak and may well have been knocked around during the op..........depending on just how the doctor operated etc.......... mine was virtually non existant from 35 years of non use so my doctor took particular care not to hurt it further.......... You may notice that your knee had a tendency to twist inwards towards the other knee which seems to go with the territory of the duck waddle...... In most normal people, healing time for the muscle and use of the leg after op will quickly strengthen it again as you found......... You can also kick the leg backwards and up after pawing the ground........a bit like dogs and cattle do when making a show........ My son gave me that one to do in the pool and it quickly put some nice finishing touches to mine.......... i.e. I am very close now to walking all the time without a limp of any sort............ This has taken 18 months but pretty good going if I may say so myself. I am now learning to swim properly and finding out that many other parts of the body just adore aching afterwards........... It feels good though to be finally free to do things like this.......... Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > Conventional wisdom seems to be to use one crutch when allowed 50% or > more weightbearing. Yes it gives you that valuable free hand compared > to using 2 crutches. But with one crutch you basically lean away from > your operated leg. This gives the wrong signals to your body. So when > I was finally allowed to go 100% and ditched the one crutch I found > myself " falling sideways " , having no proper muscle control and > walking like a duck. What worked for me is the following: > - practice standing on one leg while holding on for balance, a few > times a day; work on increasing duration (for strength) and > minimizing support (full grip-> 1 finger-> nothing). Try " nothing " > and you'll experience the balancing muscles. > - for my exercise walks I went back to 2 crutches (lightly touching > the floor) concentrating on gait and posture. > The duck was soon gone > I hope this will be of use to someone. > Ed > Mont RC+ Nov'03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Ed, The duck walk is very familiar to me and one I am fighting to halt.........just about got it licked now......... It actually happens because that little muscle down the back of the hip is weak and may well have been knocked around during the op..........depending on just how the doctor operated etc.......... mine was virtually non existant from 35 years of non use so my doctor took particular care not to hurt it further.......... You may notice that your knee had a tendency to twist inwards towards the other knee which seems to go with the territory of the duck waddle...... In most normal people, healing time for the muscle and use of the leg after op will quickly strengthen it again as you found......... You can also kick the leg backwards and up after pawing the ground........a bit like dogs and cattle do when making a show........ My son gave me that one to do in the pool and it quickly put some nice finishing touches to mine.......... i.e. I am very close now to walking all the time without a limp of any sort............ This has taken 18 months but pretty good going if I may say so myself. I am now learning to swim properly and finding out that many other parts of the body just adore aching afterwards........... It feels good though to be finally free to do things like this.......... Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > Conventional wisdom seems to be to use one crutch when allowed 50% or > more weightbearing. Yes it gives you that valuable free hand compared > to using 2 crutches. But with one crutch you basically lean away from > your operated leg. This gives the wrong signals to your body. So when > I was finally allowed to go 100% and ditched the one crutch I found > myself " falling sideways " , having no proper muscle control and > walking like a duck. What worked for me is the following: > - practice standing on one leg while holding on for balance, a few > times a day; work on increasing duration (for strength) and > minimizing support (full grip-> 1 finger-> nothing). Try " nothing " > and you'll experience the balancing muscles. > - for my exercise walks I went back to 2 crutches (lightly touching > the floor) concentrating on gait and posture. > The duck was soon gone > I hope this will be of use to someone. > Ed > Mont RC+ Nov'03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hi Ed, The duck walk is very familiar to me and one I am fighting to halt.........just about got it licked now......... It actually happens because that little muscle down the back of the hip is weak and may well have been knocked around during the op..........depending on just how the doctor operated etc.......... mine was virtually non existant from 35 years of non use so my doctor took particular care not to hurt it further.......... You may notice that your knee had a tendency to twist inwards towards the other knee which seems to go with the territory of the duck waddle...... In most normal people, healing time for the muscle and use of the leg after op will quickly strengthen it again as you found......... You can also kick the leg backwards and up after pawing the ground........a bit like dogs and cattle do when making a show........ My son gave me that one to do in the pool and it quickly put some nice finishing touches to mine.......... i.e. I am very close now to walking all the time without a limp of any sort............ This has taken 18 months but pretty good going if I may say so myself. I am now learning to swim properly and finding out that many other parts of the body just adore aching afterwards........... It feels good though to be finally free to do things like this.......... Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > Conventional wisdom seems to be to use one crutch when allowed 50% or > more weightbearing. Yes it gives you that valuable free hand compared > to using 2 crutches. But with one crutch you basically lean away from > your operated leg. This gives the wrong signals to your body. So when > I was finally allowed to go 100% and ditched the one crutch I found > myself " falling sideways " , having no proper muscle control and > walking like a duck. What worked for me is the following: > - practice standing on one leg while holding on for balance, a few > times a day; work on increasing duration (for strength) and > minimizing support (full grip-> 1 finger-> nothing). Try " nothing " > and you'll experience the balancing muscles. > - for my exercise walks I went back to 2 crutches (lightly touching > the floor) concentrating on gait and posture. > The duck was soon gone > I hope this will be of use to someone. > Ed > Mont RC+ Nov'03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 The duck walk is very familiar and using one crutch or a cane does seem to prolong uneveness. I got some " trekking poles " (like ski poles) and found they allowed me to walk more naturally. They are just enough to keep me in balance and to get moving at a normal pace. The effect seems to last and I find myself walking easily unaided after getting started with the poles. I still waddle a little when I get up from bed or after sitting for a long time, especially if I don't make a conscious determined effort. However I'm now able to walk a few miles comfortably, and am contemplating some real hiking (uneven terrain) with the help of the poles. Glenn bilateral C+ 12/18/03 Dr. Schmalzried > Hi Ed, > > The duck walk is very familiar to me and one I am fighting to > halt.........just about got it licked now......... > > It actually happens because that little muscle down the back of the hip is > weak and may well have been knocked around during the op..........depending > on just how the doctor operated etc.......... mine was virtually non > existant from 35 years of non use so my doctor took particular care not to > hurt it further.......... You may notice that your knee had a tendency to > twist inwards towards the other knee which seems to go with the territory of > the duck waddle...... > > In most normal people, healing time for the muscle and use of the leg after > op will quickly strengthen it again as you found......... You can also kick > the leg backwards and up after pawing the ground........a bit like dogs and > cattle do when making a show........ My son gave me that one to do in the > pool and it quickly put some nice finishing touches to mine.......... i.e. > I am very close now to walking all the time without a limp of any > sort............ This has taken 18 months but pretty good going if I may say > so myself. > > I am now learning to swim properly and finding out that many other parts of > the body just adore aching afterwards........... It feels good though to be > finally free to do things like this.......... > > Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > > > Conventional wisdom seems to be to use one crutch when allowed 50% or > > more weightbearing. Yes it gives you that valuable free hand compared > > to using 2 crutches. But with one crutch you basically lean away from > > your operated leg. This gives the wrong signals to your body. So when > > I was finally allowed to go 100% and ditched the one crutch I found > > myself " falling sideways " , having no proper muscle control and > > walking like a duck. What worked for me is the following: > > - practice standing on one leg while holding on for balance, a few > > times a day; work on increasing duration (for strength) and > > minimizing support (full grip-> 1 finger-> nothing). Try " nothing " > > and you'll experience the balancing muscles. > > - for my exercise walks I went back to 2 crutches (lightly touching > > the floor) concentrating on gait and posture. > > The duck was soon gone > > I hope this will be of use to someone. > > Ed > > Mont RC+ Nov'03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 The duck walk is very familiar and using one crutch or a cane does seem to prolong uneveness. I got some " trekking poles " (like ski poles) and found they allowed me to walk more naturally. They are just enough to keep me in balance and to get moving at a normal pace. The effect seems to last and I find myself walking easily unaided after getting started with the poles. I still waddle a little when I get up from bed or after sitting for a long time, especially if I don't make a conscious determined effort. However I'm now able to walk a few miles comfortably, and am contemplating some real hiking (uneven terrain) with the help of the poles. Glenn bilateral C+ 12/18/03 Dr. Schmalzried > Hi Ed, > > The duck walk is very familiar to me and one I am fighting to > halt.........just about got it licked now......... > > It actually happens because that little muscle down the back of the hip is > weak and may well have been knocked around during the op..........depending > on just how the doctor operated etc.......... mine was virtually non > existant from 35 years of non use so my doctor took particular care not to > hurt it further.......... You may notice that your knee had a tendency to > twist inwards towards the other knee which seems to go with the territory of > the duck waddle...... > > In most normal people, healing time for the muscle and use of the leg after > op will quickly strengthen it again as you found......... You can also kick > the leg backwards and up after pawing the ground........a bit like dogs and > cattle do when making a show........ My son gave me that one to do in the > pool and it quickly put some nice finishing touches to mine.......... i.e. > I am very close now to walking all the time without a limp of any > sort............ This has taken 18 months but pretty good going if I may say > so myself. > > I am now learning to swim properly and finding out that many other parts of > the body just adore aching afterwards........... It feels good though to be > finally free to do things like this.......... > > Edith LBHR Dr. L Walter Syd Aust 8/02 > > > Conventional wisdom seems to be to use one crutch when allowed 50% or > > more weightbearing. Yes it gives you that valuable free hand compared > > to using 2 crutches. But with one crutch you basically lean away from > > your operated leg. This gives the wrong signals to your body. So when > > I was finally allowed to go 100% and ditched the one crutch I found > > myself " falling sideways " , having no proper muscle control and > > walking like a duck. What worked for me is the following: > > - practice standing on one leg while holding on for balance, a few > > times a day; work on increasing duration (for strength) and > > minimizing support (full grip-> 1 finger-> nothing). Try " nothing " > > and you'll experience the balancing muscles. > > - for my exercise walks I went back to 2 crutches (lightly touching > > the floor) concentrating on gait and posture. > > The duck was soon gone > > I hope this will be of use to someone. > > Ed > > Mont RC+ Nov'03 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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