Notes starting Day 2
2nd walk around block just maggie & mom #alinker
For speed on a downslope, see Story.
*I have practised for about a week at a paved path location with someone along to manage the dog*
Notes:
1 leash does get under front wheels. But since going slow, it's easy to backup a quarter wheel turn & continue. It never feels like she gets choked. She just stops when leash tightens up.
2 I have to switch leash hands a bit. Maybe 6x. I have to think about keeping brake hand free enough to apply brake. It's life in the slow lane (altho a much fast more stable walking pace for me). Tho a fast dog, she doesn't seem to mind. I think she feels more attention gets paid to her in the moment
3 sidewalk is better. vs paved shoulder of this low traffic loop of road. I think because there are more small hills & valleys. It feels like you get more glides & small breaks along the way. I didn't feel I had to stop as much, less overheating today.
4 Already day 2 solo with dog, I can feel I'm modifying my gait to get more glides, therefore use muscles of weak leg more efficiently. Trying to use more ball of foot by big toe. Work radiates up inside knee,& thigh. I've been rolling to outside edge of this foot for 18 years. An aging body pregnancy adaptation. Targeting these inner keg muscle is a good thing.
5 Use one leg, the strong leg, on steeper inclines. Note to self, shift slightly to other side on seat some of the time to work other leg on some slopes
6 some inclines are easier than yesterday and I can use 2 legs on them vs just one
7 I dug up an ankle support cuff and use it on the weak side for these walks. I had felt the weak side was wowwing out at the ankle. Thought if I stabilized the ankle, I could direct more power straight thru leg to ground. That definitely helps
All good so far
Notes Day 3 - even faster!
Today I shifted my position on seat to slightly off to the right, which is the weak side.
I think that leg has become slightly shorter thru muscle shrinkage, just no longer matching the more built up leg, pattern of not lifting weak leg very high over glutes and letting it drop by gravity. I think this had led to what seems to be sciatic pinching in winter in stretches where I don't get in pedalling sessions on the bike.
I was able to put weak leg flat on the ground. And push off more solidly, kind of like skating, and get a really good glide going off the weak leg!
Dog had more of a brisk trot going.
I feel the pushing against gravity and the ground is doing more for me than leg machines at physio.
And like on a pedal bike, the reward is the downhill section in the home stretch.
Other half came back from his physio this a.m. Said he told his guy about it, and he immediately started looking it up.
Definitely more folks could benefit from this tool.
Today I shifted my position on seat to slightly off to the right, which is the weak side.
I think that leg has become slightly shorter thru muscle shrinkage, just no longer matching the more built up leg, pattern of not lifting weak leg very high over glutes and letting it drop by gravity. I think this had led to what seems to be sciatic pinching in winter in stretches where I don't get in pedalling sessions on the bike.
I was able to put weak leg flat on the ground. And push off more solidly, kind of like skating, and get a really good glide going off the weak leg!
Dog had more of a brisk trot going.
I feel the pushing against gravity and the ground is doing more for me than leg machines at physio.
And like on a pedal bike, the reward is the downhill section in the home stretch.
Other half came back from his physio this a.m. Said he told his guy about it, and he immediately started looking it up.
Definitely more folks could benefit from this tool.
Notes Day 4:
Today I shifted way to the right on the seat. So the nose of the seat was well up against right inner thigh. No discomfort. Anticipate this will change as leg strengthens.
This way weak leg could push off with an almost flat foot. Inclines were way easier. I could use 2 feet to get up most of them. A lot less effort required. Out of old habits/ fear kept favouring the strong 1 leg on uphills, but I didn't need to. In fact easier with 2. Just have to train my brain to kick in with 2 feet at bottom on a slope.
Story shows 2 short clips- 1 of downhill section, 2nd starts slightly downslope, the slight upslope.
Did a grass trial today, with my videographer @stan2015holding dog so that I didn't have to factor in leash tangles on grass. Grass is currently longish. Lots of lumps and potholes in grass. Earth soft. Alinker did fine. For flower pics or deadheading, I could use it. For other tasks, will likely stick to trike bc I can fit all my tools in back basket.
We noticed dog went at enough of a clip for her to tuck her ears back.
Starting to think it's possible to go around a longer loop in neighbourhood. Even thinking that is a good sign.
This way weak leg could push off with an almost flat foot. Inclines were way easier. I could use 2 feet to get up most of them. A lot less effort required. Out of old habits/ fear kept favouring the strong 1 leg on uphills, but I didn't need to. In fact easier with 2. Just have to train my brain to kick in with 2 feet at bottom on a slope.
Story shows 2 short clips- 1 of downhill section, 2nd starts slightly downslope, the slight upslope.
Did a grass trial today, with my videographer @stan2015holding dog so that I didn't have to factor in leash tangles on grass. Grass is currently longish. Lots of lumps and potholes in grass. Earth soft. Alinker did fine. For flower pics or deadheading, I could use it. For other tasks, will likely stick to trike bc I can fit all my tools in back basket.
We noticed dog went at enough of a clip for her to tuck her ears back.
Starting to think it's possible to go around a longer loop in neighbourhood. Even thinking that is a good sign.
Day 6 ?
Pic from satrdy.
Forecast is for too hot for inefficient mobility person to exercise later. Got going by 845-9 am. Walk was comfortable.
Perhaps a hair easier than before the day off I took yest.
Took a little tumble at end of ride in garage. Broke concentration and on getting off, expected Alinker to behave like trike with all the stability in back. Single rear wheel tilted and I rolled or tilted just enough to fall backward. Light tumble. Didn't hurt self. No scrapes or cuts. Dog tiny bit worried for a sec.
I've forgotten to mention, I think Alinker helps with lower ab/ core strengthening. I've had a soft middle since before 4th kid, even when I was still fit, doing my power walks. I have a long torso & short legs, so I feel the upper abs have been my particular body type's default. But I can feel more lower core engagement than in a long time. Even from sitting in back of seat & stabilizing/ doing work. Another plus
Forecast is for too hot for inefficient mobility person to exercise later. Got going by 845-9 am. Walk was comfortable.
Perhaps a hair easier than before the day off I took yest.
Took a little tumble at end of ride in garage. Broke concentration and on getting off, expected Alinker to behave like trike with all the stability in back. Single rear wheel tilted and I rolled or tilted just enough to fall backward. Light tumble. Didn't hurt self. No scrapes or cuts. Dog tiny bit worried for a sec.
I've forgotten to mention, I think Alinker helps with lower ab/ core strengthening. I've had a soft middle since before 4th kid, even when I was still fit, doing my power walks. I have a long torso & short legs, so I feel the upper abs have been my particular body type's default. But I can feel more lower core engagement than in a long time. Even from sitting in back of seat & stabilizing/ doing work. Another plus
Day 6.
(pic from 10 days ago.)
Alinker really helps with dog. She got all tough with the bulldog behind his fence around the corner. If I had been using cane or walking poles, she would have pulled me off balance. I was able to just sit, regroup & move along.
Tried using the weak leg to kick off and start hill climb. That worked pretty well. Same walk continues to get easier. Not noticing the inclines as much
Alinker really helps with dog. She got all tough with the bulldog behind his fence around the corner. If I had been using cane or walking poles, she would have pulled me off balance. I was able to just sit, regroup & move along.
Tried using the weak leg to kick off and start hill climb. That worked pretty well. Same walk continues to get easier. Not noticing the inclines as much
Day 7
This point in the walk is just before bulldog's house. Today Alinker kept me upright when she tried to take on a golden retriever on the sidewalk and frenemy bulldog.
Ongoing experiments with weak foot placement. Best plant seem to be interior ball of weak foot. If I make sure to follow thru with big toe, I get a good glide. Still trying to correct away from rolling to outside edge of weak foot for grip & force. Being able to go slow and focus on this with the Alinker is a great opportunity.
Also re ankle band, I've been putting it in upside down. Mainly bc my thumbs have trouble pulling the tight item up and over foot. But I feel a good accident has occurred. The long side of sleeve runs along foot and this helping to keep ball of foot and heel in alignment, which also pulls against rolling to outside edge of foot. I know I need to train my inside ankle to knee tendons and ligaments to do the work. This is helping with that.
I've thought for some time that if I put a rolled upcoltg piece under the toes in that foot it would help prevent rolling out. If the toes are curled, they grip to the inside all up the knee
Another test might be - I have an MBT hiking boot. I've found the sole wedge can be a tripping feature if you don't lift leg very high ( which I don't, I think to keep leg lengths even). Not for everyday purposes. But I suspect it could give more power/speed/ endurance to an event involving a long institutional hallway. Worth a test.
I also need to train lower glutes to fire, which I can do if I concentrate.
I'm going to transition these Alinker observations to my blog. Link here, Bio, Story, Highlights. Feel free to follow along there for updates ☮️
http://gtawestebiker.blogspot.com/
This point in the walk is just before bulldog's house. Today Alinker kept me upright when she tried to take on a golden retriever on the sidewalk and frenemy bulldog.
Ongoing experiments with weak foot placement. Best plant seem to be interior ball of weak foot. If I make sure to follow thru with big toe, I get a good glide. Still trying to correct away from rolling to outside edge of weak foot for grip & force. Being able to go slow and focus on this with the Alinker is a great opportunity.
Also re ankle band, I've been putting it in upside down. Mainly bc my thumbs have trouble pulling the tight item up and over foot. But I feel a good accident has occurred. The long side of sleeve runs along foot and this helping to keep ball of foot and heel in alignment, which also pulls against rolling to outside edge of foot. I know I need to train my inside ankle to knee tendons and ligaments to do the work. This is helping with that.
I've thought for some time that if I put a rolled upcoltg piece under the toes in that foot it would help prevent rolling out. If the toes are curled, they grip to the inside all up the knee
Another test might be - I have an MBT hiking boot. I've found the sole wedge can be a tripping feature if you don't lift leg very high ( which I don't, I think to keep leg lengths even). Not for everyday purposes. But I suspect it could give more power/speed/ endurance to an event involving a long institutional hallway. Worth a test.
I also need to train lower glutes to fire, which I can do if I concentrate.
I'm going to transition these Alinker observations to my blog. Link here, Bio, Story, Highlights. Feel free to follow along there for updates ☮️
http://gtawestebiker.blogspot.com/
DAY 8
Today I felt that planting the inside heel of weak leg on inclines helped. It gets you starting your stride on the correct ligaments on inside of ankle. Then follow thru with think deep glutes ball of foot, toe.
An older lady from the church happened to be out. She is pretty spry. Tiny, at least 80. I've seen here out walking well in winter. She said she'd seen me in the bike and took a look at it. She said she went to a Christmas mall and took her backup cane. But it was such a nuisance. That was her first reaction to seeing an application for it for herself. She thought it seemed great.
No dog standoffs today. Weather a hair cooler. I was still perspiring at lot. Another satisfying outing.
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