Mar 11 - Walking in the rain

14:33
There has not been much to blog about. I would have to invent something to get more than a few sentences. :-)

A few days ago we went to the big Train Museum. Lots of cool steam trains.
Yesterday we went to the main Museum in George. it wasn't that great of a museum. The best part was the ramps for the wheel chair access. That gave me good practice on walking slopes with my prosthesis. I did all the up slopes, but used the stairs going down. I almost have up slopes figured out.
When we got home I went for a walk around the block in Maddie's neighborhood.

From the house it is a .96km round trip around the block back to the house. We are in a hilly neighborhood. Not steep hills, but enough that I have problems with the slopes. The driveway is about 100 meters long, and very steep. I really battled getting down the driveway.
Remember that my prosthetic ankle is stiff, and does not move. A steep downslope means the toe of the prosthesis never gets weight on it, so the knee will never break loose, and bend. The knee remains stiff as I limp/stumble/reel down the slope.

An up slope on the other hand means the toe gets lots of weight on it before I am ready for the knee to bend. It wants to collapse on me every step as soon as I put weight on the leg. I can use strong back pressure using my buttock muscles to keep the knee straight, and prevent it from unlocking. Long up slopes makes my butt muscles tired quickly.

Today is a cool, windy, cloudy day with light rain. But I wanted to walk and get some exercise.

Maddie went to pay bills, and I went for a walk in the rain. I first used both crutches, and walked up and down the driveway twice.
To go down a steep slope like the driveway, the accepted way is to step forward with the prosthetic leg putting weight on the heel, then use the hip flexors on that side to break the knee so the leg collapses. To keep my face from hitting the ground, I must quickly move my good foot to stop the fall.
If done properly and at the proper rate, the steps look even and smooth. While using the crutches, I was able to do a decent step about one time in ten. The other times the use of the crutches saved my life. But 10% today, and improving to 20% tomorrow. In a zillion years I will have it down pat.

I thn walked around the block 3 times. there are some hills, and I was able to walk up the hills good, but battled going downhill. I ended up walking 2.48 km in 55 minutes. Almost exactly half the speed needed for the parkrun.

Tomorrow is Saturday, and Maddie is planning on doing the parkrun so she can learn the route, so we can practice it together during the week.
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