A question about body flexibility
 

Quick question. Can you put on your socks while standing up?

The reason for asking is, since having my hip replaced, I've tried and mostly succeeded to maintain a daily regiment of stretching and strengthening. My daily test is to put my socks on while standing. Some days it's easier than others, but I (almost) always persevere. To say I can ever do it smoothly and easily would be a lie, even though my balance, strength and flexibility is much better since August. Lately it seems like I've really plateaued. I know there's an 80/20 rule for most of life, and I'm at the point of marginal gains, so I have no intention of quitting, but I just wonder if this little test I give myself is something that people like me find easy to do?
(I've never been super-flexible, never been able to touch my toes)

I have always subscribed to the idea that the more flexibility you have in a joint the
less pain you will have. This has served me well, especially after a recent back injury.

At 61 years old, I am starting to think my dream of an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics might be moving out of reach.

I generally put my socks on sitting down, and stopped using shoes with laces since my bad car accident 6 years ago. I have better flexibility than most, and can still get all 10 fingers on the ground with straight legs, but with a pants belt on, I find that it is uncomfortable.

I had a really bad problem with balance a few years ago, and I started doing Tai Chi with my eyes closed. I learned several ways of sensing balance besides relying on my inner ears. I also learned that a lot of what constitutes graceful balance is dependent on core strength.

I suspect that you have a lot more in you that can be brought out if you work at it. I would bet on it.

My thoughts too. I believe that if you have plenty of flexibility it means "more spare room" in there, so if you do get some inflammation it doesn't matter.

I used to get a mild head ache every day. Then I started doing stretches and improving my posture, which resulted in making my neck muscles being not so tight, and haven't had a head ache since.

^^^ That's why I drink. Too many brain cells make it hard for them to work right.
Give them room to function.SmileWavy

Yes I can and do most mornings, flexibility is somthing I work at regularly.

My completely free unsolicited, no guarantee, 2 cent internet opinion would be two parts-
1. With the hip replaced leg, use the good leg as a basepoint for flexibility. How far can you bend / extend things on the good side. Use that as a baseline to consider success for the replaced hip. That's what I did with my total hip replacement... That's what PT used as a guideline for me a while back. It was about 6-8 months in where I had to really fight for increased flexibility.

2. From there, go wherever you please... namaste yoga naste yoga... whatever... don't wanna really know... It was more the #1 I was thinking of.

Ia m still pretty flexible but how does this hip replacement affect your riding?

I am 58.. Had a knee repaired from a motorcycle accident in my 30's.. All the ligaments and knee socket were damaged. I am still walking on my own knees though the one is not 100% full range of motion. I try to stay active. 5 years ago my back started bothering me due to degenerative disk/arthrititis... I was not able to dress standing up then. I increased my exercise routine, and started Mountainbiking more frequently on rougher more technical terrain. I also do daily stretches to keep flexibility which keeps my back from hurting. Now I get dressed standing up with ease. Balance and flexibility are key as well as some self confidence that comes from being in shape. Not sure what the future holds but I want the quality of life to be the best possible so taking care of myself physically is important.

Not a chance. I'd fall over like a grain silo being demo'ed...here is me trying to put on socks while standing up:

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After years of fighting the effects of an accident early in life, my left hip has been replaced and my right hip is scheduled for early next year: We'll see if the CBO's continue to work.

Simple question- Long answer.. You don't want to get me started! :D

I generally put my socks on while sitting - that's probably since the socks are kept near the bed and I sit on the bed.

But, to answer your question....I just now took off my socks and put them back on while standing - no issues.

I do get vertigo a few times per year and I would probably have a tough time doing this exercise but Dramamine for a day or so usually wipes that out.

I suppose I could, but I always sit to put on my socks and shoes.... not sure why, I definitely stand to put on pants. I am also absurdly flexible, both by natural physiology and through intentional stretches e.g. I can stand with my knees locked and put my entire palm of both hands flat on the ground and keep them there, no sweat.

The older I get (about to turn 39) the more often I ponder the differences (attitude, habits etc) of the 60 and 70 year olds I know who are "old" vs those who are still out there killing it. My dad is 78, he skis 60-70 or so days each season and kept up with me on a challenging 8 day backpacking trip last year. I'm pretty sure he could take me in a fight if it came down to it. We had a house guest recently who just turned 67, no notable health problems and a healthy BMI... he could not muster the strength to walk half a mile down to our beach on a mildly graded footpath through the woods.

I can barely put them on sitting on a low stool. 59 yrs old, in the last six months had lumbar spinal fusion and rotator cuff surgery. Started basic yoga and stretching routine. Making slow but steady improvements. When I flex forward my fingertips are 12” from floor. I used to be be 4-5 inches from floor. Hope to get back on the tennis court soon. Tim

I probably could but don’t try. My balance may be good but the arthritis in my feet keep them from responding to the signals.

Apparently a good simple test of fitness, flex and balance is to sit on the floor on your butt. Now stand, do not use your hands.

Too easy.

I always put my socks on while sitting since they're right there. I do dry my feet and legs off standing on one foot when I get out of the shower. Does that count?

Turned 52 a few months ago. I just got off my chair without doing anything else with knees locked but only mamaged to have four fingers flat on the ground but not my hand. big difference to add that two inched, but I am sure if I try a few times and loosen up, it can be done.

I have't been backpacking since my mid 20s. Around 35-40, my three close friends were bored and decided to take the single foot trail up to Mt Wilson to see what kind of shape we were in only because we used to go up training for those long back packing trip all the time. I wasn't riding my bike, but worked day in and day out. They had sit down, fat guy jobs. This is a 5000+ climb from about 700'. HAlf way up, we were breathing heavy and was dying for water. These old men, in their mid 60 and 70 passed us like if were going backwards. They stopped and chatted with us at the small lookout. We discovered they did this climb 2-3 times a week. Damn those older guys were in great shape. Not fat but fit. if one kept up with the exercise, we can stay fit a long time. I know some guys that are in their early 60s who will embarrass 30 year olds on the bike. These guys were in the Olympic back up team, and stuck to riding many miles weekly. They used to drag me out like a dead dog and gave me hell yet they still do. I think the key is to keep on keeping on.

Yep. My goal is to be equally limber both sides. I have years of neglect and arthritis pain to work thru but I've been getting results, and I expect to stretch each day for the rest of my life, godwillin'.

All to the good, now that I can put power down with my left leg without pain. Did a sixty miler on my sixtieth birthday a few days ago. I was also working on sixty days of riding in sixty days, but the ice- covered roads in Portland mean I have to start that goal over when the weather breaks. Bummer.

How old is the young child this flex test was designed for? 7? :)

I can get my butt about two or three inches off the ground and stand up with no hands. Realistically I never see myself doing what you wrote!! Maybe I need to adjust my goals!!


It does count. Exactly what I was looking for since I've been arthritic for so long that I couldn't remember what normal flexibility used to look like. I couldn't even put on pants without sitting before the knife, now I can put on socks, and that seems like a win to me.

I blame Mike for this. As a result of reading this thread I tried to put my boxers on standing up (I sleep in boxers and a tee shirt). I got my left leg in a leg hole ok, but got my other foot caught in the peckerhole, couldn’t get it out, and fell on my ass. Your fault Mike. Your fault.

Hope you didn't get hurt!

Wait. Are we talking about the butler standing or me personally?

I mentioned this in the getting older thread. A lack of balance and coordination.

I can get my left foot/leg in my drawers but always get the right foot caught in them. It’s especially bad after taking a shower with wet feet.

Body flexability? Is this about a targa?

Oh oh oh, you have no idea:
"Your honor, my client was a fully function male until he took this defendant's challenge to attempt this reckless and bizarre dressing challenge. As a result of the serious and well documented emotional trauma of falling to his ass, feet in the air, thereby displaying a full blown and unforced peckerhole violation for all the world to see, my client may never be able to engage in gainful employment again. Even now he hears behind his back whispers of " right in the peckerhole!"
My client's life has clearly bee ruined forever. He may have to eschew boxer shorts altogether. Woh gonna pay for This?
Where's his unemployment?

Yes, I put my socks and shorts n standing up...but I am only in early 60s. I had started sitting and noted that I was a little shaky doing so standing (balance) at 59...so I made sure I did so every day until my balance got better.

First time I met herr_oberst was to ride the 206 mile Seattle to Portland. Now that I know he just turned 60 I can do the math and for this particular ride he would have been 54, I was 33... he was (and I am sure still is) quite capable of embarrassing me on the bike. He was very nice about it though SmileWavy

I don't have the wisdom of years quite yet, but from where I stand this really seems to be it. And on the other side of the coin, I swear I know some people who just decided that they have hit some magic number, are now old and would act likewise... they decided to stop keeping on. I'm not sure if those folks are any happier or sadder than the rest, I just know that I am not wired like they are.

This. It helps a lot to practice something on a regular basis to improve over time.

Have you started wearing yoga pants, too, Tim?!?! :eek:

:D

I think this too. You have to just keep going, because if you stop....I think it gets harder to get it back, the older you get.

Ive been off my bike for the last 2 weeks with an Achilles tendon injury. (Which was brought about by either a bad pair of flat sneakers or a new bike shoes worn too tight) Have to say, this has been the most debilitating thing Ive ever done to myself, and also the most painful. But it occurred to me...this is all you need do to immobilise yourself. And ten days off the bike (or actually anything at all, couldnt walk), the loss of bike fitness was immediately noticeable, so quickly.

I tips me lid to you fellas with new hips and knees.

Some basic Yoga and Fitness I found on the google. You should probably examine the moves carefully to make sure that you are doing your routine correctly. I have, and I think I'm doing it wrong, so I keep watching to see where I can improve...

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beside watching that rectal floss, there's no fooking way I can do any of those moves besides the push ups in the first minute.

I was in OK shape, like haul ass full on for 30 miles staying up in top ten in our group. This was some time ago. A friend invited me to a spinning class. After about 4 -5 minutes of keeping up with what the instructor wanted us to do, I knew it was a waste of time in terms of any benefit making me go faster on the bike. So I decide to spin like mad for an hour staying about 95 RPM. the last 10 min she had us off the bike doing push ups and seat up. I was able to squeeze out about 10 push ups, but when it came to the seat up, I did about 15 and could no longer move. I couldn't, with all my inner and outer strength, muster out half a sit up. That kicked my ass. I realized then how important core strength is. Still don't have it. Those yoga moves are absolutely ass kickers. Not for ugly old dudes like me.

Yes and of course I do it shirtless. I’m also growing my hair so I can sport the (man bun) Tim

I never thought about it much. I do put on my boxers every morning while standing up. And I put on my jeans in the winter or shorts in the summer while standing up only because it is fast and easy. I did notice that I always seem to use my left leg first. I never noticed that until a recent while back. I tried to use my right leg first, and it just feels awkward. I usually sit down to put on my socks the shoes since it requires more time with a foot in the air, and more tugging and pulling.

I have no joint pain after getting my hip replaced. One side was simply worn out, and was rubbing bone on bone with nothing but blood as a lubricant. With the new titanium hip, all is well. I do feel lucky that as a 60+ year old grey hair geezer I do not live with any constant pain at all.

BTDT now I go commando.

Nope. I have the little wifey do it for me.

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