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Sid 'n All.... One thing that the NPF overlooked in their "balance advice," is for those of us living with PETS in our home, should to make SURE one's pets are in plain view in FRONT of us as we walk, and NOT about to run under our feet or between our legs as we move about our home. Talk about loss of balance??? It's a cat's MISSION IN LIFE to run between your legs as you start to walk upstairs carrying a load of freshly washed and folded laundry! And dogs??? Them pooches are usually dozing behind a sofa or chair where ya can't see 'em till you step on their tail! Jumping backwards while screaming is NOT conducive to maintaining one's balance! IF you're walking 'round your home and your pet isn't visible, you can be SURE they're planning something to throw ya off balance! And don't forget, them darn little critters move FAST, too! Sooooo.... THIS "cat-mama" (speaking from experience) advises ya pet-in-the-house-people to remember, no matter how much we love our fur-friends, if it's between YOU and THEM, YOU'LL trip and fall before THEY will, so DO be careful where ya put your feet! Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Sid Roberts <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sunday, February 21, 1999 6:52 AM Subject: Fitness Counts: Balance > >One brief exerpt from the NPF pamphlet FITNESS COUNTS (p34) on .. > >BETTER BALANCE > >RETROPULSION refers to the tendency to fall backward caused by a decrease >in one's postural righting reflex. It is a common feature of Parkinson's >disease, and is most likely to occur when someone is: > Reaching overhead. > Opening doors that pull toward you. > Carrying objects against the front of your body. > Stepping backward to move away from a counter. > Backing up to sit down in a chair. > >COMPENSATION TECHNIQUES INCLUDE: > > Place one hand on a wall, counter or other stable object while using >the other hand to reach for the desired shelf object. > Avoid using step stools and ladders. > Install a small vertical grab bar near the door frame of any heavy doors. > Turn to one side and lift knees in a marching sequence to move away >from counters and sinks, rather than backing away. > > >------------ >Sid Roberts 69/4 Youngstown,Ohio >