I'm Walkin'

Began about the beginning of April past. Started doing a mile in 21 minutes, not racing or anything, just getting the body in motion. At 65 I had begun to have aches and pains, injuries more frequently. Mostly around the area of the tendons behind the knee, and my ankles. I'd been an avid bicyclist, both on and off road, and found myself hurting pretty much all of the time. My primary care doc x-rayed one knee and said I had mild arthritis. From the way both knees, the left hip, and the ankles felt I figure I have it in all of them. Last checkup, two weeks ago, blood work revealed I'm in great shape, except for a vitamin D deficiency. I googled that and lo and behold, symptoms include fatigue, which I suffer from, and achy bones.

I had read articles on how high mileage cyclists suffer osteoporosis in the lower spine and hips. Tour De France kind of mileage. I wasn't worried about that because I don't put in anywhere near that kind of mileage. OTOH, I read articles that noted cycling is not a weight bearing exercise and decided to go walking regularly. After a month of walking 2 miles a day, average pace now 17 minutes per mile, my aches are history. Been taking glucosamine sulfate for the arthritis, and cod live oil for the vitamin deficiency and feeling good. Any other walkers out there ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqs5gkyH930

I like to walk. I have had 2 back surgeries the last one I got 4 screws and to rods. So walking really helps with keeping my lower back muscles toned up and keeps the pain controllable. Plus helps me lose some weight I gain over the winter.

I started walking in the very ewe hours of the morning training to hike up mount whitney a few years ago. Now I walk all the time. It's great relaxation, exercise and alone time all in one. Have you tried adding trekking poles?

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Originally Posted by JTmke

I started walking in the very ewe hours of the morning training to hike up mount whitney a few years ago. Now I walk all the time. It's great relaxation, exercise and alone time all in one. Have you tried adding trekking poles?

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No I haven't. I'm a flatlander, down in Florida. No mountains to climb down here unfortunately. :)

I've been away from a good walk for too long, but yes. :)

http://i39.servimg.com/u/f39/13/33/95/13/captur20.jpg

Scotland - Black Cuillins, summer 2012.

Nothing better than a long walk in the wild...

Will not be long before your doing that mile in half the time. Keep it up.

I walk just about everyday with my sidekick Buddy the Beagle. We do 3 to 5 miles a day and enjoy every minute of it. Feelin' good.

:othe doc wanted to replace one of my knees about 1 year ago, told me to get the muscles in as good a shape as I could before the surgery , si started walking , got to where I did at least 3 miles a day and took the gluocosamine tablets and shark oil capsules ,, I haven't had the knee replaced yet because I,m getting along fine with the walking and supplements! tc

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Began about the beginning of April past. Started doing a mile in 21 minutes, not racing or anything, just getting the body in motion. At 65 I had begun to have aches and pains, injuries more frequently. Mostly around the area of the tendons behind the knee, and my ankles. I'd been an avid bicyclist, both on and off road, and found myself hurting pretty much all of the time. My primary care doc x-rayed one knee and said I had mild arthritis. From the way both knees, the left hip, and the ankles felt I figure I have it in all of them. Last checkup, two weeks ago, blood work revealed I'm in great shape, except for a vitamin D deficiency. I googled that and lo and behold, symptoms include fatigue, which I suffer from, and achy bones.

I had read articles on how high mileage cyclists suffer osteoporosis in the lower spine and hips. Tour De France kind of mileage. I wasn't worried about that because I don't put in anywhere near that kind of mileage. OTOH, I read articles that noted cycling is not a weight bearing exercise and decided to go walking regularly. After a month of walking 2 miles a day, average pace now 17 minutes per mile, my aches are history. Been taking glucosamine sulfate for the arthritis, and cod live oil for the vitamin deficiency and feeling good. Any other walkers out there ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqs5gkyH930

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I too am 65, have degenerative disc, herniated disc, bulging disc and compressed disc in lower back. I feel lucky to even be able to walk without assistance but am doing a mile 5 days a week. Sometimes it seems to help but other times seems to do more harm than good. Some days I have to lay on a heating pad followed by some time with the TENS unit but I walk anyway because I know I need it. It sucks getting old and the worst part about getting old is.......getting old!

I was diagnosed with one herniated and two bulging discs in my lower back in 1988, from injuries sustained during 20 years of union ironwork. Now I have what the doc calls 'mild arthritis' in my knees, ankles and feel like my hips are on the way out too. We weren't really designed to live much longer IMO. Like a car with 250,000 miles on it. Time to start replacing parts ?

I walk a lot due to my work. But it's on concrete, so not great for the knees....I probably clock anywhere from 2-4 miles a day on concrete, this includes .....several stairways totaling 1,000 steps (I counted them) going down to an elevation of 143' and up to 252'
I took Glucosamine and also it starts with a C can't remember.....it worked for a while and then just didn't seem to work anymore. I found that good shoes are the ticket. I wear soles out on my work boots every year at the heel throwing thing's out of whack and I'm sure stressing joints. I start feeling it in my knees when it's time to replace my kicks.

Keep moving is my policy.

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Originally Posted by Trimmy72

I walk a lot due to my work. But it's on concrete, so not great for the knees....I probably clock anywhere from 2-4 miles a day on concrete, this includes .....several stairways totaling 1,000 steps (I counted them) going down to an elevation of 143' and up to 252'

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There is a fair amount of research which suggests that walking and running on concrete surfaces is not as harmful as people think. It's certain that walking on concrete is better for your health and your knees that sitting at a desk for 7-8hrs a day.