Walking After Midnight; A Walk To Remember, Walking In The Rain; music and movies and walking. Walking by definition is to “move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once.” And then there is my style of walking … in socks!
What shoes were to Imelda Marcos, socks are to me. I have red socks (lots of those!), blue socks, blacks, whites, stripes, socks with stars, socks with little flowers, thigh high socks from Scotland circa 1976; 4 pairs my mother brought back from a trip across the pond. I still wear them, but only in winter to keep my scrawny legs warm. And then, my favourite, chenille aka fuzzy socks. Multiple pairs to match PJs. Call me OCD if you must, but my fashion sense is impeccable.
Walking in my socks is the preferred mode of moving about now that I’m a senior citizen. Now, there’s an OMG moment. I don’t feel like a senior citizen. Long before I became one, I was an infant, then toddler, but I didn’t toddle. I couldn’t toddle - at least on my own; spastic diplegic cerebral palsy was an impediment to not only toddling but to many other things that involved movement. Spastic diplegia in the family of conditions related to cerebral palsy involves involuntary movement in the legs; by definition, diplegia is exclusive to affecting the lower extremities. Where those without interruption/disturbance to the milestone of walking do so naturally and ‘on time’, I was taught how to crawl, to sit, to roll over. Not unlike how one teaches a puppy. Now, there’s another story! :)
For many years, I was exercised, with the legs moved this way and that, patterning the steps involved in walking; standing, putting one foot in front of the other, lifting the left foot and moving it forward, then the right foot, and so on. I didn’t have much rhythm, at least not right away. That would come later. But I love music and it was music, lots of it, that was part of what got me where I am today. All involved in my daily therapy played records of their favourite genre, which became my favourite music. When my legs weren’t being twisted and stretched like pretzels, they were encased in ugly heavy metal braces attached to even uglier brown shoes . My scrawny flat feet were slipped into cream coloured Vyella knee socks that had an extra wide band at the top to cover my knee as the brace had a leather ‘knee cap’. Always the cream socks. Did my love of socks of many colours start then? Possibly!
I was required to spend a certain amount of time each day wearing the braces; they absolutely had to be worn at school. Period! At home, freedom ruled and I was reprieved from the leg weights, but socked! I’d shuffle around the house but be reminded to ‘heel-toe’ as I made my way around, touching walls and furniture for balance. Early on, I was quite skilled at picking my feet up without shoes, and actually executing a perfect heel-toe. Gold Medal 10 worthy!!
Christmas was the time for socks - the coloured ones. I loved them. They were special and I didn’t like getting them dirty, so I didn’t walk in them. I wore them in bed because my internal thermostat, then as now, was out of whack and my feet were always cold.
One thing I’ve always known since I was a small girl was that moving and movement would be critical to my overall health and wellness. Now, at age 69, I still move albeit more slowly. Wanting to find new and different ways of staying fit I incorporate a number of things into my daily routine that are, at closer examination, forms of therapy. While standing at the counter preparing meals, I’ll do calf tightening exercises, alternating left foot, right foot. Then, balancing myself by placing one hand or both on the counter, I’ll stand on my tip-toes to and do quad strengthening sets, usually 10 reps. In winter, four times daily treks to the den is great exercise. too; I have what I call ‘the den’ socks, worn over my daily socks to keep them clean from debris from compressed wood bricks used to heat Chez Rockwell. I have standards!
Though I have very good posture, both sitting and standing, core strength is lacking and because osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine is a feature of the cerebral palsy, I was looking for ways to address maintaining spine and bone integrity. I found this site with a group of videos featuring exercises for seniors and those like me who cannot move with ease but want to stay fit, or at least make an attempt at self-improvement. One small step, right?
Check out EXERCISING WHILE SEATED which outlines great exercises that ensure safe movement. Perhaps you might be able to give your own body a tune-up. Let me know how you’re doing because I really do care! If I’ve motivated you to get up and move a bit more each day, that’s a good thing. Now, go out and grab a friend and get him moving. Or, you could become a dog walker for someone who can’t easily exercise their pooch. Compassion in action is the order of the day, people.
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, a boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
