When I was around 12, I took Judo for about a year. The first thing they teach you is how to fall, absorbing the energy and distributing it along your forearms (and if/when possible, legs and or side). They made us practice that until it became instinctive, because in a sport like that, one is subject to falling very hard, very fast.

Last year I slipped on some ice outside a quilt shop, and if I'd been watching someone else, I couldn't have stopped myself from laughing because it was the sterotypical slip on a banana peel kind of pratfall with my feet flying up higher than the rest of me before crashing to the ground.

Fortunately, that decades old instinct/training kicked in, and I broke my fall with my forearms and side.

Moral: Martial arts aside, IMO it's not a bad idea for everyone to learn how to fall/break their fall. I often wonder how many broken bones or trips to the ER could be saved by people learning that simple skill.

GENTLE stretching exercises to improve bloodflow to the traumatized areas.

Doc

How are you doing today, Susanne?

Any swelling, or discolored areas?

Expect to be stiff for a day or two. You have to use the walking pole(s) outside!

--for as speedy a recovery as possible.

Got to train that puppy to throw its own ball.

I am a little bruised, nothing alarming. My arms are sore and the left side of my spine with more pain than usual in my left leg. Probably only to be exoected as you said. I am definitely stiffer than usual. It could easily have been so much worse I feel very fortunate. I am scared by that thought.
I took the dog out this morning and almost fell again, just a 20 ft duty walk. I do need those poles!

I too am afraid of falling, and the damage that can be done. I have a plate and pins in my left ankle, resulting from a nasty fall on ice several years ago. Falls can happen in the blink of an eye, no matter how careful we are to try and avoid them. I do agree that using poles would be of great advantage for balance issues when outside. I truly hope that you recover from this fall as quickly as possible Susanne.

I also studied Judo as a young teenager Dr. Smith, so am very familiar with the break/fall technique. It has worked very well for me in the past, not so sure that it would now! It does require some ability and coordination to do properly. You are quite right in stating that it does become instinctive though, once the technique is learned properly.

Poles, canes, etc. do not work for me now. I need an arm and a cane. And then in the winter especially I have to be very careful as you can slip and slide (your cane) even if it has an ice claw (whatever) on the end. It still can slide if not set down straight in the ice. And then my feet could slip anyway and away I'd go. An ice claw (tip) on the end of a cane can slip when you go into a store as it does not grip the floor so you have to put it up and then be certain that the rubber tip of your cane is dry. The wet spots on the floor of a store can also cause a "normal" person to go slipping and sliding.

Also, in whatever weather be it winter or summer, if it is wet on the floor of a store your rubber tip can slip. People on crutches with a rubber tip can slip as well. People I've encountered can hardly believe it but if they think about it - yes it can and does happen. One has to be careful no matter.

Oh Susanne,

I am so sorry about your fall. Maybe you need a long line to let the dog go out on?

We have an electric fence, which is for our 'Granddog' when he comes to visit.

He can just run around outside on his own, which is wonderful.

I wish I could walk around outside, but that is more and more out of the question.

I have found that a cane or pole really won't do the job for me, since I can just suddenly veer off to the side.

Once it is necessary, I will use a walker, of course. A fancy one with a seat!

The worst thing for me is that my husband is always remodeling (right now he's tearing up the kitchen floor tile) and has all sorts of equipment, rugs, plastic runners, hoses and stuff strewn about the floor.

Thing I don't see under my feet, and even things I do see but my feet don't follow orders to avoid, are the most scary for me.

So far I haven't been badly hurt in falls. But at 71 I'm rapidly heading into the more fragile years, and one bad fall with take out an arm, cause a concussion, or break a tooth, or worse.

My therapist pointed out that my disability forces me to be more 'intentional' more 'aware' of every moment. HA! I would be if I spent more time trying to move around.

Keep us posted, Susanne.

Hugs, elaine

The trouble with a CMTer is that the legs/feet have some muscles that are diseased (atrophied/dead) muscles. Therefore, it is very hard to rely on any kind of trying to use the other leg or foot. Legs/feet are weaker and so that does not help. The same can be said if the forearms/hands are affected. Falls happen fast for sure. Doesn't matter what your instincts are for a CMTer who falls. We do the best that we can; and hopefully not fall. I know. Nice thought though.

I know of a CMTer who was wearing AFO's and she fell and broke the AFO and hurt her foot badly. That is not uncommon either.

My son took Kenpo karate for many years and said something to me about learning how to fall. I assume that like learning to dance and roller skate it would have been beyond my skills even when I was young. Certainly it would be now, as Kitt said, but it is a good idea for those who still have the coordination to learn.