benefits of stretching

[georger]

I've had significant benefit from stretching affected muscles. For most of the 20 years that I have had symptoms of TAM, contracting hamstrings and hip flexors have been a problem. It's hard to walk well when you cannot straighten up. This has been difficult to deal with because the usual stretches as prescribed by physiotherapists (physical therapists) have been too severe and can worsen TAM, just like excessive exercise. What can help is warming up muscles, say with a hot water bottle, before stretching.

For the last 2 years I have been stretching very gently 3 times a day, always backing off if muscles were sorer than usual. It has taken that long to get the full benefit, but it has been worth it. I'm walking better and able to climb stairs with care. Not spectacular, but a most welcome improvement after 20 years of a progressive disease. Oddly my hands are better and I'm not doing anything for them. No more waking up with stiff and aching fingers.

Let's know what your experience has been with muscle contractions and stretching.

[Craig Lane]

Nice to hear something positive Pete. Are you using your hands as part of your warm-up stretching? can you give a more step by step of the stretches for those of us that would like to reach for the stars or the stairs anyway

[georger]

Nothing much to add. I asked a therapist about hamstring contractions which have been a problem most of the 20 years I've had TAM. The therapist said "We'll soon fix that" which scared me off. We all know the dangers of over stressing TAM affected muscles. So stretching for about a minute, 3 times a day, pushing it just a smidgeon more than I had been game to before, has been very effective. But it has taken 2 years of patient stretching and I need to keep doing it, but by crikey it's worth it.

As to the cause of the marked improvement in my hands, I really don't know. Someone said to me that an improvement in one part of the body can by some unexplained magical process affect another part. Sounds as dodgy as most of the TAM spam (© 2019 kilerb).

[georger]

Just a thought about the improvement in my hands; could it be diet? I always thought I was careful about salt, but my doc gave me the talk about sodium versus potassium. Potassium helps to lower blood pressure. So I'm paranoid about sodium and get potassium from bananas, other fruit and veg plus pomegranate and beetroot juice. Yes Craig, I know we joked about beetroot juice, but could it be?

Whatever, given that TAM is with us unless there is some monumental research breakthrough, it makes sense to live as healthily as possible. Such as not smoking and avoiding those who do, sticking to the alcohol guidelines, a sensible diet and exercising within our limits.

Well, it works for me. The Parkinson's Disease folk say, "Everyone's experience of Parkinson's Disease is different" and it looks like that applies to TAM.