Being Floppy

Picture that stuffed animal that isn't quite stuffed enough.  You know, the one you keep trying to sit up and it just flops over onto itself.  Yeah...that would be me.  My core has always been mushy, not matter how much Pilates and/or crunches I do.  Only made worse by a vertical c section (another blog all together) and a resulting diastasis recti.

Good thing my kid is cute.

Speaking of kids:  TIP - If your child is having trouble sitting still during circle time ask the teacher to sit him/her against a wall or in a chair.  It's unbelievable how long our kids are expected to sit unsupported.  Often teachers go right to a behavioral issue when in fact the child has poor trunk strength and can't sit up for long periods of time without support (see bunny above).

I was always active as a child, although I did not play many organized sports I remember staying outside late on warm summer nights playing Kickballl, King of the Hill and Hail Mary.  I also loved gymnastics, until I dislocated my elbow...twice.  Hey....do you see a pattern here?

What does any of the above have to do with anything?

Well my sister, who is an Occupational Therapist called the other day and asked, "Have you thought of getting inserts for your shoes?"  I know I overpronate...and yes...I have thought about inserts but it is one of those things I just never got around to doing.

Over Extended Knee

 My knees also hyperextend which means other joints probably do the same.   I probably have ligamentous laxity (loose ligaments) and lower than typical muscle tone.  Keep in mind, muscle tone is not the same as muscle strength.  Muscle tone has more to do with the amount of tension in a muscle than how strong a muscle actually is (thus making one appear "floppy").

Who cares, right?

Apparently, according to my OT sister who can explain it much better than I can, this might have something to do with why I broke my feet.  I think it goes something like this, when my foot rolled the muscle in my leg responded by pulling on the bone.  My tendons and ligaments aren't strong enough to counteract the muscle, so "crack" there it is.

"But I thought it was just dumb luck", I said.  "Lot's of people step on shin guards and acorns," she responded, "not everyone breaks their foot."

Cool Orthopedic Shoes

Bio mechanically speaking, I'm probably just not built to endure high impact activities.  This doesn't mean I shouldn't do them, just that I should take precautions.  For example...I probably should not be doing plyometrics barefoot.

Needless to say, I won't be jumping on the barefoot running fad any time soon.
Hey....maybe I can get a pair of cool looing orthopedic shoes like these (see pic right)! 

In the meantime, I'll do the best with what I have and watch out for acorns, shin guards and other assorted things that may occupy the floor beneath my step.