I worked with Sue on Wednesday and we started with the normal PNFs as we always do. She’s added a new stretch. I’ve done it a few times and I’m not very good at it. I’ve explained to Sue that I am getting stronger standing. I feel really sturdy on my feet and that feels really good but once I am standing after using my quads to stand and I am up tall; I don’t know what to do. I can’t move or shift my weight at all. She explained to me which muscles I would need to activate to pivot and shift my weight to transfer onto the table from my chair. These are the same muscles I would need to use when I am walking.
Well, no wonder I’m bad at it! This stretch has me activate a small muscle group on the insides of my legs. I need to push my leg in on a diagonal and on the next set, push them out on that same diagonal. These movements are particularly difficult and Sue explains that using my quads or even my hamstrings to push or pull in a straight movement is much easier. THAT is SO true! I think I did two sets of like 5 on each leg both pushing and pulling and it felt like a MILLION. I think it’s the diagonal part that makes it SO difficult!
i look forward to the day that these movements will become easy for me but that day was not here yet and I was EXHAUSTED!!! My legs felt like Jell-O and it was difficult to even stand to transfer to my chair. I had to just sit for a minute. Sue told me that my legs felt looser than they did on Monday so that encouraged me. It was a bit discouraging however, how difficult this new stretch was for me. I sat in my chair absolutely still because I was SO tired! It was “Wacky Sock Wednesday” #36 and I didn’t even take a picture of my socks! I had my Mom take this picture because I couldn’t move because I was so tired. My ankles were a little bit swollen.
