Can you touch your toes?

Believe it or not I am very much overweight and still can bend over and place my hands flat on the floor. The problem is : getting back up. The older I get the harder it is. And, of course, the fibro and RA don't help.

I seem to be getting stiffer but at the same time I am having "loose joint" issues. Its quite difficult to walk when your muscles feel tight and your joints feel like they are only being held together by your skin. Apparently, in my case, its an RA issue.

Sure as long as Im sitting down. :) Sherrine, I know what you mean about getting up from a kneeling position. Ouch

I couldn't touch my toes as a kid, just my lower shins but always been athletic. Out of 6 kids in the family, I was the only one who couldn't touch my toes and I was the skinny kid of the bunch. My 80 year old Mom can still bend and put her palms on the floor. I didn't get the flex gene.

When I work in my flower garden, I sit Indian fashion, and stoop rather than bend. Keeping a lawn chair next to me helps me get up.

hugs, Robin

 

You probably have shorter muscles in the back of your legs, Robin.  We'll just call you Squirt, okay?  LOL

 

jmw, it not only hurts to get up from a kneeling position, it's also not a pretty sight! 

 

Sherrine

Even as a kids, I could not touch my toes when my feet are together. If I can spread my feet apart, I can touch the floor. As a kid, I could put both feet behind my head, yet could not touch my toes. (That always counted against me in gym class.)

I have always been able to touch my toes and I still can. My husband says its because I am so short that I'm already down there. lol Tonight I tried dancing with my granddaughter in the livingroom for a few songs. Big mistake I was hurting too much for that but mostly it was so disappointing because just a couple of years ago I was going to dances or having parties and doing the macarena and electric slide, line dances etc. I almost cried when all I could do was swing my arms and march around. How did I get so old in such a short period of time. Another issue of acceptance at hand.

I've been to PT in the past and learned quite a few stretches. The therapist told me he was surprised I could even walk...my leg tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints are so tight. Everyone tells me to relax...even when I feel relaxed, I'm not....that is why I'm always doing deep breathing relaxation therapy. I believe it is the combo of my health issues that like to pick on me :)

Sherrine, squirt was my nickname when I was a kid given to me by my Grandpa.

Hang Loose

Hugs, Robin

Nope, I can't touch my toes. It hurts too bad if I try. I can get down to the middle of my shins and that's it.

I was just at the PT 2 weeks ago, doing range of motion stuff, and he had me bend and told me to touch my toes. I said..."are you nuts!" LOL! I not only have fibro, but I also have disintegrating discs in my lower back, so there's no way i'm getting all the way down there (i'm 5'10") without killing my back!

Then he had me laying on the table, but as if I was sitting in a recliner, and told me to lift both of my legs up straight....couldn't do that either! I wasn't even laying flat, how the hell did he want me to do that!?

I can't even bring my arms straight up from my sides (backs of hands touching) over my head!

Can any of you do that? Just wondering....LOL!