Walk It Out

Practice Makes Permanence It was 1 year post-amputation before I felt confident enough to go out and try a 10K Let’s cut to the nitty gritty. Practice makes permanence not perfection. As an amputee it takes daily, mindful practice placing one step in front of the other to get comfortable in your prosthesis. To take time to practice what feels right and looks right is important to learning the proper gait which in turn will help keep the rest of your body healthy and stronger for the long run. If you start getting lazy, or not taking breaks and pushing yourself too hard too fast you might find yourself getting tired and losing focus and control over your practice. This is a journey, not an end game. I am still focused on my gait and I am almost 6 years post-amputation. Hiking on uneven, rocky terrain takes a lot of practice! See the waddle? I can tell I was being lazy or I was hurting based on this one snapshot. Woah! Working on balance and leg strength is important everyday so you can go off roading! And once again, I try to challenge myself on different terrain. Winter hiking boots on snow/ice! Quite the trek! Be mindful as you work on walking. Pay attention to your hips being engaged and swinging your legs through your step versus swinging it out and around. Take your steps slow and be patient. Walk wherever you can and make learning your prosthesis a full time job, it’s important! Also, be mindful of when you’re getting tired and take a break so you don’t resort to bad posture and gait. I know you can do it, remember it is a journey and one worth practicing al the time. Rise up, Warriors, and get to steppin’! And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!! Much love, Me and My Guys in Hollywood Studios, FL