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Old 06-18-22, 11:25 AM  
Vintage VFer
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Lightbulb "Most Important Exercise for Seniors to Master" (not what you think!)

I ran across this Margaret Martin video today. It was interesting. She states that, of course, squats are important. But, she is focusing on calf strength. She demos a progression of calf exercises - weighted and unweighted. The one-legged ones look good!

Most Important Exercise for Seniors to Master

For hill walkers and hikers, those calves get you up the hills!
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Old 06-18-22, 11:44 AM  
Gams
 
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Interesting and I think it’s good to exercise all your muscles, but I still think squats would rank above calf exercises.
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Old 06-18-22, 12:09 PM  
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Just wanted to add that because this is aimed at seniors, things like getting out of chairs and cars and bath tubs would be of major importance. I’m impressed that my soon to be 90-year old mother still takes baths with no aids to get in and out of the tub plus she still gets down on her hands and knees to scrub floors.
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Old 06-18-22, 12:52 PM  
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Interesting video. I think this is another case of YMMV as heaven knows my calves get plenty of work but I think she makes a good point of not neglecting calves in favor of the larger hamstrings and quads.
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Old 06-18-22, 03:42 PM  
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I can testify that the calves go fast if you don't use them. I was laid up with a broken foot for 3 months. I was able to do floor work for the quads, glutes, hamstrings, and so on, but I did not use my calves much, if at all. It's been almost two years since my injury, and my calves and ankles are still weak and creaky. You don't realize how much you use them until they don't work.
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Old 06-18-22, 03:44 PM  
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I’m impressed that my soon to be 90-year old mother still takes baths with no aids to get in and out of the tub plus she still gets down on her hands and knees to scrub floors.
This is awesome.
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Old 06-18-22, 04:09 PM  
Erica H.
 
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I can testify that the calves go fast if you don't use them. I was laid up with a broken foot for 3 months. I was able to do floor work for the quads, glutes, hamstrings, and so on, but I did not use my calves much, if at all. It's been almost two years since my injury, and my calves and ankles are still weak and creaky. You don't realize how much you use them until they don't work.
This is so true! I had reconstructive foot surgery and also had my calf muscle cut to lengthen it and was non weight bearing for 7 weeks before I could gradually start walking again. My calf muscle atrophied shockingly fast. Like where the muscles were was just loose skin.

I showed DH when I felt the absence of the calf muscle and he blurted, "cool!" I burst into tears because I was so upset. I'm still working daily on building it up now (six months post-op).

Erica
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Old 06-18-22, 04:22 PM  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bfit View Post
I can testify that the calves go fast if you don't use them. I was laid up with a broken foot for 3 months. I was able to do floor work for the quads, glutes, hamstrings, and so on, but I did not use my calves much, if at all. It's been almost two years since my injury, and my calves and ankles are still weak and creaky. You don't realize how much you use them until they don't work.
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Originally Posted by Erica H. View Post
This is so true! I had reconstructive foot surgery and also had my calf muscle cut to lengthen it and was non weight bearing for 7 weeks before I could gradually start walking again. My calf muscle atrophied shockingly fast. Like where the muscles were was just loose skin.

I showed DH when I felt the absence of the calf muscle and he blurted, "cool!" I burst into tears because I was so upset. I'm still working daily on building it up now (six months post-op).

Erica
Same thing happened to me when I broke my ankle. I was using my left leg to hop around but my right leg had no weight-bearing for 8 weeks and wow, did my right calf atrophy! There was a definite difference in size from my left. And, yes, I still work my calves (and ankles) daily, after almost 2 years post-surgery.

Donna
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Old 06-18-22, 05:59 PM  
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Vintage, thanks for this! Great stuff.
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Old 06-18-22, 07:19 PM  
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Calf work = barre, releve
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aging, calf strength, calves, margaret martin, melioguide, squats

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