STREEEEEETCH

      I am not the perfect example of fitness nor the most knowledgeable. However, I do value being healthy and having as good a quality of life as possible.

      So here's where my limited knowledge shows itself. For a long time I have firmly believed that stretching is valuable. With stretching we keep more flexible. If we're more flexible a number of benefits occur. Flexibility helps us in balance , strength and posture. Balance and strength help to keep us from some falls.

     Stretching helps us to combat stiffness. Being stiff can cause all kinds of simple problems. Our body just doesn't seem to go where we want it to go.

     I'm a bit of a people watcher. Many times I see people who would benefit from stretching. Sore backs, hips knees? These things spoil quality of life. Not all issues can be improved just by stretching but many can.

    It's easy to find some good stretches for seniors. Just go on line. In other places there are excellent programs for senior physical activity.

   I stretch almost everyday for about 20 minutes. I'm sure I could find more or different stretches. I have had plantars fasciitis . I just cheated and went to a site to see how to spell fasciitis . They are selling all kinds of shoes and socks to treat plantars. I'm sure they do help but I found stretching got rid of the problem for me .This is very unpleasant as it feels like there are balls or rollers under your feet. Some people just give up and become inactive. Work hard and you can get rid of this stuff. For years I had lower back problems which were somewhat debilitating. I was told that what I was experiencing was due to small muscle tears in my lower back. A physiotherapist finally persuaded me that stretching would help. I've never looked back and it advertised stretching for me.

    Stretching also helps us to keep in tune with our body. We will notice when we are stiff or when the body changes. Don't let things drag on. 

This is only a small example of stretching. I know there is much more.

    So if we're going to live for a long time we might as well have good quality of life

 

WHY AM I COUNTING?

    This morning I noticed that I was counting as I walked from one part of the house to another. I also noticed when I started to pee I was counting. I caught myself counting a couple more times throughout the morning. What's going on?

    It kind of bothered me as it was such a weird behavior. Something twigged in the back of my brain about compulsive counters. I looked it up. Yes, some people count all the time. They count no matter what they are doing.

   So what's going on? To me there should be a reason for things happening.

   I started to think about what was happening in my life. I have a nasty bit of rotator cuff problem. I'm doing all kinds of stretching and strength building exercises. Of course, with all of these routines you count and then you do another routine and count. I've been working hard on the stretches and strength building. I want to end my rotator cuff suffering.

    So I think because I've been counting so much for my exercises I started to count at other times.

   Now rotator cuff is nasty. Little tears occur under a tendon that goes over the shoulder joint. Muscles stiffen and then weaken. To complicate mine, I have arthritis. I noticed something uncomfortable with my shoulder in September but thought it would go away. It didn't go away so I asked my doc about it when I had my check up in Nov. He told me to look on the Internet and find stretches which I did. Things just kept getting worse so that in January I booked my self into physio therapy. Now I'm at a stage where I have the odd good day or good night. I hope I get on top of this thing before spring. I know one thing for sure. Counting isn't going to help me.