Five months have passed since the March 23rd car accident resulting in significant impact trauma to my upper body torso and arms.
IMPROVING MOBILITY
The extent of the damage done to my mostly soft tissues (muscles and connective tissues associated with the neck, shoulders, back, chest, arms and wrist) and hard tissue (left clavicle) became evident within hours afterwards.
I shared some immediate, alarming mobility consequences during the five days following the incident - contact by another car on the drivers side and being pushed into a wooden utility pole with sufficient force to snap it, total the vehicle - in a March 28th post, my 70th birthday.
ACKNOWLEDGING
HEALING TAKES TIME
Every day since March 23rd my morning and evening yoga sessions reflected movements that were possible - accepting the reality of a significant setback, determined to focus on the positive and to appreciate whatever mobility I was capable of at any given time.
I was successful in listening to my body and selecting, sequencing and modifying movements to avoid injury.
It took over four months to do the above COMPASS POSE: achieving and maintaining a relatively good form without any limitations or upper body pain - especially of right and left clavicle, associated muscles.
Yesterday evening I successfully executed the EIGHT ANGLES asana shown below for the first time since being injured and making the transition from sitting with legs forward to a lateral, elevated position.
Ongoing upper, lower right arm referred pain likely from one or more rotator cuff muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus) continues at this time along with deltoid and trapezius discomfort at times.
Once resolved, I hopefully will add practicing handstands, forearm inversions to my evening yoga sessions.
BENEFITS
OF
DAILY WALKING
My local frequent walks this year in Auburn during January, February and March became a daily activity and were continued into April, May, June, July and August.
In the past five months since March 23rd, I have walked every day with one exception during April.
This was possible by adjusting my start times to avoid record hot and humid conditions and record amounts of rainfall experience these past months.
It was not uncommon to begin my days before or after 4am - usually doing my morning yoga session first before walking with the exception of the past two days.
My decision to make walking a high priority was informed by the likely cardiovascular benefits to be achieved.
My focus and discipline was rewarded by blood pressure systolic and diastolic values of 120/78 during my annual visit with my Geriatric Specialist Dr. Jarrod Faucher - relatively good at 70, my lowest numbers taken in his office during six years.
NUTRITION
STILL A PRIORITY
Daily emphasis on consuming mostly plant based foods continues and undoubtedly is largely responsible for maintaining my adolescent, high school weight.
On July 20th, the day I met with Dr. Faucher at St. Vincent's Hospital, my morning weight was 119.2 pounds.
I suspect calorie restriction, time-restricted eating and the combination of physical activities (yoga, walking) has collectively contributed to maintenance of my lean yet mobile and relatively strong body.
EVALUATING
CHOLESTEROL
&
CORONORY RISK
I will share data from a recent coronary calcium computerized tomography imaging and scan, ongoing response when additional information becomes available.
MOVING FORWARD
BOB CROWTHER - NUTRITION - YOGA
