HIP PT progress

[redbird]

Yesterday's PT session mostly went well, though I wound up arguing with the therapist about how ot makes sense to start increasing the amount of walking I do: she was pushing for "walk until you're tired or it starts to hurt," even though I've made clear that having to keep going when the hip hurts a little is the likeliest thing to make it hurt sharply. So that was annoying, in terms of not being listened to, and wondering how clear I'd been about the problem she's treating me for.

I do want to get back to walking more: that's part of the point of this PT. So, given the above, if I am out and about because I want to go somewhere specific, or get something done, I'm likely to take transit to whatever, do stuff, and then walk at least partway home. That way, if I run out of energy I get on the bus or train sooner; I don't either abandon my plans, or push through even though it hurts. (Moving slowly with frequently rests because my hip hurts isn't my idea of recreational walking.)

The good news is that the therapist thinks I may only need one more session of physical therapy for the hips, because they're significantly stronger than when I started. No new exercises, but I should try to increase the number of sets on some of them (either from two sets to three, or from one set to two), for the short term. Once PT is done, which might be in another fortnight, I can start doing the exercises two or three times a week, instead of almost every day.

At the beginning of the PT session, the therapist looked at my sneakers, and commented that they were good shoes (by which I think she meant, flat and designed for walking in) and then that they were wearing out. I asked if she could recommend someplace to replace them, and she gave me both a recommendation and a discount coupon for Marathon Sports. I went there after lunch yesterday, and was quite pleased: the salesman asked sensible questions about what I wanted and what size I was wearing, and then brought me things to try. I tried four or five pairs of sneakers, finding two that fit; lacking any other obvious differentiation, I bought the New Balance because they were slightly less expensive than the Adidas. (I'm not sure exactly how old the shoes I was wearing yesterday are, but I bought them while we were living in Bellevue, so at least two years ago.)

Comments

[ranunculus]

Many sympathies regarding the hips and shoe issues. For the record I think New Balance is one of the best walking shoe companies.

My knees require shoes with really good arch support. After being told that I should change sneakers (or so-called "tennis shoes") at least every 3 months (!!!) I went out and bought the best leather hiking boots I could find, Italian made Zamberlan boots made for backpacking. Yes they cost three times what the lighter weight shoes do, and they are significantly heavier, but they last many times longer. As a bonus my knee doesn't swell up. I've stripped down the last couple of pairs of boots (available only in brown), dyed them black and polished them to a high shine. This regularly gets favorable comments at work.

[redbird]

I wore almost nothing but New Balance for years; then either their sizing or the shape of my feet changed, and the extra wide shoes I'd been wearing were too wide, while the wide was too tight. I am pleased these fit me. (Like the "running shoes" they're replacing, they're a size 9; I've taken 8s for a couple of decades, and those metal foot measuring things in the shoestores still say I take an 8.

[bibliofile]

PT that works, such a lovely thing. The ability to walk around a lot is so good. Also, I associate you with walking lots and lots, even though you and I (I think) have only walked a very small amount together (e.g., to a meal from a con hotel).

Also, yay for good shoes that fit.