My mother is 68 years old and very healthy. She is not on any medication, save one aspirin and a daily multi-vitamin. A year and a half ago she had a successful hip replacement and just recently she had an arthroscopic procedure to have her knee rebreed. She has been doing “leg exercises” in her spa at home. The issue is, my mother, now retired for many years, is quite sedentary. She does not now, and never has, enjoyed any sort of sports or physical activity. The extent of the walking she does on a regular basis consists of going to lunch and going to the grocerie store.
Although I speak to my mother daily, as we live on opposite sides of the country, we rarely see each other. The last time she visited I was shocked. She was walking like an old lady; waddling flat footed from side to side with her head down looking at her feet. Being the sensitive daughter I am, I said, “What are you doing? You walk like you’re 100 years old! Put your head up, nose forward, look ten paces ahead, and walk heal-toe-heal-toe.” She claims since I have made her aware of her posture she has changed it, but I am not around to witness this for myself, so I cannot be sure. Lately when we talk she tells me that she does not feel sure footed and she trips over her own feet; she is afraid of falling and hurting herself. I have told her that there is no reason that a person in her physical condition should not be walking on a regular basis. She claims that the exercises she does in her spa are enough to keep her muscles toned. I told her that this does not replace weight bearing exercise, and much like an athlete that stops training she is losing coordination and balance, and only by walking regularly will she remain sure footed. Although my mom is a very intelligent woman, she absolutely refuses to acknowledge the logic in this. She tells me that it is ridiculous that I am suggesting that she is forgetting how to walk, and that we are just going to have to agree to disagree on the matter.
Are there any studies or website links or anything you can direct me to that speak to this subject?