The Mind/Leg Connection
Last evening I went to Walking School. University Of Maryland Rehab holds this several times a year, open to all amputees. The first time I went I was still using a wheelchair and did not have a prosthesis. Last night, I was probably the most advanced walker there, but I had some questions and wanted to up my skills. I'm so glad I went. It has become obvious to me of late that I depend far too much on my "good" leg. When I get up or sit down it bears all my weight. When I'm standing still my weight is not evenly distributed. I knew I had to learn to trust my prosthesis more than I do, and I figured the folks at Walking School could point me in the right direction. The physical therapists and the man who runs the sessions, who is himself, an amputee, ran me through a whole series of exercises. Squatting, lunging, walking with resistance bands around my prosthetic leg. My leg did things I really did't know it could do. While I was there, I also worked on stairs, ...