So... what is ambulation?
Well let's take it one step at a time.
Ambulation is also known as walking.
It is one of the main gaits of locomotion among legged animals.
That would include me and thee.
We walk simply by lifting and setting one foot in turn
while moving in a forward direction.
In walking only one foot at a time leaves contact with the ground.
Walking is defined by an inverted pendulum gait
in which the body vaults over the stiff limb with each step.
During forward motion, the leg that leaves the ground
swings forward from the hip.
This sweep is the first pendulum.
Then the leg strikes the ground with the heel
and rolls through to the toe
in a motion described as an inverted pendulum.
One must coordinate the two legs so that one foot or the other
is always in contact with the ground.
If both feet leave the ground at the same time,
we could fall and hurt ourself.... not a good thing.
Regular walking can improve confidence,
energy, stamina, weight control, life expectancy and reduce stress.
With that in mind one would think the mailman should be immortal.
Studies have shown that walking, besides its physical benefits
is also benificial for the mind, improving skills,
learning ability, concentration and abstract reasoning.
Though many people enjoy walking as a recreation
it is one of the best forms of exercise.
Walking is considered a good form of exercise
that will add minutes to your life.
This will enable one to spend an additional
several months in a nursing home at $6000.00 per month.
There are a variety of different kinds of walking,
including race walking, beach walking, hiking and Nordic walking.
Nordic walking is a physical activity performed
with specialy designed walking poles similar to ski poles.
If you are planning cross country walking...
start with a small country.
For an extra long journey the prefered method would be in a car.
To walk in front of a car you will get tired.
To walk in back of a car you will be exhausted.
In the game of Baseball a batter is awarded a 'walk' to first base
after not swinging at four pitches outside the strike zone.
After all, any fellow with four balls aught to be shown some consideration.
Walking for recreation or exercise can be enjoyed at any age.
My uncle started walking five miles a day when he was 60.
He is now 74 and we have no idea where he is.
I really was enjoying this very profound article on walking until I got to the end, and then I started laughing so hard I could barely finish!
I was so glad after my arms were so devastated that I could still walk 52 years ago after being paralyzed in an accident during surgery on my spine. However, I started tripping and falling when I shouldn't right away. And have many stitches to prove it.
Anyway, eight years later, my mother prudently told me, "Ron, you're limping!" But I kept walking up until 24 years ago when my gait got so bad that the only walking I could do was scooting around the floor at the office and at home in wheeled office chairs. When that failed, two years later, it was an electric wheelchair for me. Now, I glide rather than walk. My mother, at 91, with completely shot joints, still refuses a wheelchair and has been using a walker for about six years.
Do I miss walking? You're damned right I do! I'm glad that I have a Flexociser to get those legs moving in a bicycle action at about 15 miles an hour for about 20 to 30 minutes a day. My thighs have grown since I've been using the machine, but my sometimes painful and violent spasms increase every year.
I believe in walking. I do it every day. Eh . . . To be serious here, I do walk quite a bit every day. Got my little mutt to walk twice a day, sometimes three times. Plus I walk as I shop. Speaking of shopping, I walk almost every day around circumference at WalMart walking as close to the walls as possible, and that is a pretty damn good walk. So yes! I understand the need for walking, especially us old farts.
Love ya!
Jane
I was so glad after my arms were so devastated that I could still walk 52 years ago after being paralyzed in an accident during surgery on my spine. However, I started tripping and falling when I shouldn't right away. And have many stitches to prove it.
Anyway, eight years later, my mother prudently told me, "Ron, you're limping!" But I kept walking up until 24 years ago when my gait got so bad that the only walking I could do was scooting around the floor at the office and at home in wheeled office chairs. When that failed, two years later, it was an electric wheelchair for me. Now, I glide rather than walk. My mother, at 91, with completely shot joints, still refuses a wheelchair and has been using a walker for about six years.
Do I miss walking? You're damned right I do! I'm glad that I have a Flexociser to get those legs moving in a bicycle action at about 15 miles an hour for about 20 to 30 minutes a day. My thighs have grown since I've been using the machine, but my sometimes painful and violent spasms increase every year.
Ron
Jon Peter