In praise of bike helmets
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I fell off my bike on Thursday. Not a crash in traffic, I was just dismounting.
I misjudged the height of my right leg/foot clearing the saddle, so I went down.
I think it’s a matter of losing flexibility with age. It IS a tall saddle height that’s worked for the last 25 years, but maybe I need to do other exercise to stay flexible.
Anyway, although I don’t think my head hit the ground, and my (brand-new) helmet looked unscathed, I could feel that something moved inside my skull. No disorientation, and I put the bike in the car and drove home normally.
I went to the urgent care a few hours later, and they tested my reflexes, and said don’t worry unless I get dizzy or confused or nauseous, or experience vision changes, but if I do, go to a hospital.
So my head felt achy for a couple of days, but it’s getting better. I seem to have all my faculties and I’m practicing effectively.
I do feel the effects on other body parts. My neck, shoulder, hip, elbow, knee are sore. I feel like I’ve been in a bar fight.
But thank goodness for bike helmets. Maybe it could have been worse.
@RealPlayer I’m glad you’re okay. Protect your head! I’m a big fan of bike helmets. I had a concussion (even with helmet) in a bike accident nearly 30 years ago. Woke up in the street. I think I slid on wet pavement, but I have no memory of the accident.
Mr. AM traded bikes for one with a step-through frame several years ago when he was no longer able to throw his leg over the crossbar of his bikes. I don’t think you’re at that point, but it’s something to consider for the future.
@jon-nyc We love rails to trails! Gentle grade, off the road, usually through nice areas. The only thing I don’t like is the stanchions where the trail crosses a road. They’re there so cars don’t come up the trail. But suddenly I feel like I can’t steer well between them!
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Oh gosh, glad you're OK, RP.
So be alert for any new symptoms, dizziness, headache that doesn’t go away etc.
For sure. Several years ago a co-worker was in a taxi that had to stop abruptly. He lunged forward and hit his head on the partition separating the front of the cab from the back. He didn't think too much about it. A neighbor, hearing his vacuum running non-stop, found him the next day slumped on his bed, dead. Bleeding from his ear.
@Bernard oh dear that’s heartbreaking! And terrifying!
Re getting up off the floor, I can’t really do that without my hands. But I’m very good if I can use my hands, I don’t need any other assistance. We stretch almost every evening, on the floor in our bedroom, so we get down, do our routine and then get back up again. I also do a whole set of upper and lower body routine that I started when my knees started to go. So I some ways I’m pretty good.
What I can’t do is a single leg sit to stand, which would be good to be able to do if I ever get my foot surgery (which I hope to put off until forever…)
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I’m convinced that strength and balance training is something I need to do. I’m pretty sure that my weight loss in recent years is due to loss of muscle mass, not exercise or diet. Case in point: I can no longer lift the lid of my 9 foot Piano.
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I also had a fall over the weekend. Seems to be going around.
Bought a 30” kitchen base cabinet and decided to move it in to the the basement myself. Mistake #1 was not taking it out if the box. Mistake #2 was not removing the shelf, doors, and drawer to make it lighter. Mistake #3 was moving it upright rather than laying it down. Mistake #4 was thinking I’m still 25 years old.
About halfway down the stairs it got away from me. The slick cardboard on the bottom of the box slid way too easily on the carpet and I couldn’t stop it.
I ended up on the floor at the foot of the stairs with the box on top of me. Laid there for a while and took stock. Ankle scuffed, back hurts. Nice hole in wall. Found phone in pocket and figured I could call someone if I couldn’t get out from under the box.
Got out, took stock. Not too bad. Back of cabinet is broken, knee kind of hurts. Decided to spend the rest of the day on the sofa so as not to have to climb the stairs.
Got lucky. Next time I’ll lower it down the stairs with a rope.
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Yikes @steve-miller . These incidents are definitely a wake-up call. Glad it wasn't worse.
I was thinking about trying to get a cabinet down from the second floor by myself by sliding it down the stairs on its side.
Think I'll call a nice strapping young neighbor over to help me...or maybe two strapping young neighbors to do it for me....
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I’m convinced that strength and balance training is something I need to do. I’m pretty sure that my weight loss in recent years is due to loss of muscle mass, not exercise or diet. Case in point: I can no longer lift the lid of my 9 foot Piano.
@RealPlayer NPR's Fresh Air interviewed the author of "Fed Up" yesterday. It was really interesting and he talked about muscle loss vs fat loss.
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I also had a fall over the weekend. Seems to be going around.
Bought a 30” kitchen base cabinet and decided to move it in to the the basement myself. Mistake #1 was not taking it out if the box. Mistake #2 was not removing the shelf, doors, and drawer to make it lighter. Mistake #3 was moving it upright rather than laying it down. Mistake #4 was thinking I’m still 25 years old.
About halfway down the stairs it got away from me. The slick cardboard on the bottom of the box slid way too easily on the carpet and I couldn’t stop it.
I ended up on the floor at the foot of the stairs with the box on top of me. Laid there for a while and took stock. Ankle scuffed, back hurts. Nice hole in wall. Found phone in pocket and figured I could call someone if I couldn’t get out from under the box.
Got out, took stock. Not too bad. Back of cabinet is broken, knee kind of hurts. Decided to spend the rest of the day on the sofa so as not to have to climb the stairs.
Got lucky. Next time I’ll lower it down the stairs with a rope.
@Steve-Miller Yikes, Steve. Glad you survived. Yeah, it's easy to miscalculate, sometimes.
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I’m convinced that strength and balance training is something I need to do. I’m pretty sure that my weight loss in recent years is due to loss of muscle mass, not exercise or diet. Case in point: I can no longer lift the lid of my 9 foot Piano.
my weight loss in recent years is due to loss of muscle mass, not exercise or diet. Case in point: I can no longer lift the lid of my 9 foot Piano.
I know those lids are crazy heavy, but if you used to be able to, and now can't, it's something to think about.
Have you looked into any programs that offer guided exercises or PT for older adults?
@steve-miller oh dear!! I'm glad it wasn't worse, but that doesn't sound like much fun!
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There’s a physician turned influencer (though he still has a practice) who’s focus is ‘healthspan’ as opposed to lifespan. He talks about ‘being able to do the things you want to do in your marginal decade of life’. Strength training and balance are a big part of his regimen. One example he often uses is ‘you still want to be able to put your bag in the overhead compartment by yourself when you’re 80’.
He also talks about how we lose what he calls ‘explosive power’ which leads to falls. A young person can lose their balance too, but they’re far more likely to move their leg quickly forward (or wherever) to break the fall. He works on that as well as balance and strength.
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my weight loss in recent years is due to loss of muscle mass, not exercise or diet. Case in point: I can no longer lift the lid of my 9 foot Piano.
I know those lids are crazy heavy, but if you used to be able to, and now can't, it's something to think about.
Have you looked into any programs that offer guided exercises or PT for older adults?
@steve-miller oh dear!! I'm glad it wasn't worse, but that doesn't sound like much fun!
Have you looked into any programs that offer guided exercises or PT for older adults?
I've been doing some of the exercises recommended by this physiotherapist and have found them to be quite helpful. I was starting to feel like the stairs were getting a bit tougher to manage, but as soon as I started some of the exercises I noticed a significant change in how I climbed the stairs.
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