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ColaBear
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24 Sep 2011, 7:15 pm

More than once or twice I've been told I walk like a robot. The other day I saw myself on the company's cctv system and in my opinion I think I walk more like a zombie, that sort of staggering side to side thing. It's not uncommon for me to walk straight into door frames and tables but I luckily don't get damaged easily.

I've known for many years I have an unusual walk and it's one of the reasons I get anxious about leaving the house to the point where I usually only go out early in the mornings or after dark. So my question is, are there any exercises that might help build up muscles or anything to help my balance?

I've tried doing dumbell squats every other day for 20-30mins but I'm not sure if that's going to help? I do now have a hole in a wall where I lost my balance and put an elbow through it so at least my diy skills will get a workout :)



Jory
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24 Sep 2011, 7:20 pm

People have told me since childhood that I walk funny. I walk with a limp that I have no reason to have, and I have horrible balance. I slam my shoulders into door frames on a regular basis. My sister told me that I might have an inner ear problem, but I later found out that walking oddly, having poor balance, and being clumsy in general are common Asperger's traits.



ColaBear
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24 Sep 2011, 7:42 pm

Do you find you can remain better balanced if you are walking faster or even running? I seem to and have always assumed it worked like when riding a bike (which also took me until I was 15 to manage), that the faster I went, the less time I had to rock side to side.

Could be just me of course, and even then it's not really a practical solution to race around like my hair is on fire all the time :)



Jory
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24 Sep 2011, 8:03 pm

Speed doesn't seem to matter, although I know I can ride a bike pretty well. Probably better than I can walk, sadly.



Herman
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25 Sep 2011, 9:14 pm

See my thread on Dyspraxia.



EmiliaL
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25 Sep 2011, 9:29 pm

ColaBear wrote:
I've known for many years I have an unusual walk and it's one of the reasons I get anxious about leaving the house to the point where I usually only go out early in the mornings or after dark. So my question is, are there any exercises that might help build up muscles or anything to help my balance?


It would depend on the cause of the usual walk. If there's something structurally off in your bones all the exercises in the world are not going to do much.

It's remarkably common for people to have one leg shorter than the other, to have ankles that roll in, or have their toes turn out or in.

Sometimes all someone needs is proper shoes. Sometimes a really talented chiropractor can fix the structural problems. Sometimes it takes even more, like surgery. And sometimes there's really not much that can be done. And yes, sometimes target exercise can solve problems, but if your walk is that unusual just my guess but exercise alone is not so likely to solve the problem.

Quote:
I've tried doing dumbell squats every other day for 20-30mins but I'm not sure if that's going to help? I do now have a hole in a wall where I lost my balance and put an elbow through it so at least my diy skills will get a workout :)


You need a professional who deals with this stuff to look at you. An orthopedist to start, perhaps?

Not everything can be fixed DIY.



ColaBear
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26 Sep 2011, 6:17 pm

I think as with most things in life, any imperfection becomes hugely magnified in my mind and it's not as obvious as I believe it to be. Of course I have no one to tell me otherwise, and if I had, how would I know if they were telling the truth or just being polite. :?

I suppose seeing an orthopedist would at the very least give me an unbiased opinion of my walk. Assuming theyre not desperate for new clients. I do find it really very difficult to seek help like that as being british and having access to the NHS, I constantly feel like there's people who need more help than me and should be ahead in the long queues for their help. Hence the DIY approach to everything.

If I earned enough money to be seen privately, I'd probably give the money away to charities or suchlike before I could get an appointment lol.

Maybe I should train to be an orthopedist. An unemployed one of course or I'd be taking away a potential job from someone who might need employment more than me...