Life on One Leg

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And sometimes, the relationship is causal – the World Health Organization estimates that 684,000 fatal falls occur each year, making falling the second leading cause of unintentional injury death, with a further 37m falls severe enough to require medical attention, leaving many more people dealing with disability or a shortened lifespan. A lot has been written about the debilitating and potentially deadly after-effects of stroke. That’s why many of us try (or at least attempt) to steer clear of junk food, exercise regularly, keep an eye on the scales, and sit on the yoga mat once in a while. But what about standing on one leg for 20 seconds? According to one study, hand and leg coordination is controlled by a complex neural network. The sensory circuits that control your vision, your sense of your body’s position in space, and the optimal functionality of the vestibular system determine your ability to balance yourself. So an inability to maintain balance could indicate damage in the neural circuitry and warrants medical attention. if you connect the dots, it seems likely that balance impairment is indicative of brain damage. With this book, the reader can be part of the story. Yadsi is a little girl who just happens to have a lower-limb difference. She is not concerned with all the fuss over her leg. She just wants to have fun! Many children like Yadsi wear a prosthetic leg, enabling them to be mobile. These children need to feel comfortable with or without their prosthesis and be accepted for who they are, rather than having their lower-limb difference define them. Oliver’s High Five Brandon Bear’s dad has been hurt while serving in the military, and Brandon is worried. During a playdate with Todd the Amputeddy, Brandon asks his friend some important questions about how his dad will be different. Todd helps Brandon see that his dad will be different, but they’ll figure it out and everything will turn out alright. Amputeddy Meets Nubby Bear

Life on One Leg by Tom Scott Sutherland - Hardcover - 1957

Kiomi is a very “handy” and “capable” girl born with a little arm. As she works to find her purpose in the world, her example helps others realize that her potential goes far beyond her physical limitations. Kiomi doesn’t let the world’s limited perception of her influence how she sees herself. As she overcomes challenges, she learns to find value in the masterpiece she was born to be. Since she was created to be in the spotlight, Kiomi decides to be an inspiration by living a life filled with love, courage, and accomplishment. Little Miss Jessica Goes to School If you have difficulty standing on one leg, it could be a sign of something more serious than overdoing it at the office summer drinks party. Middle-aged and elderly people who cannot balance on one leg for 10 seconds are almost twice as likely to die within 10 years than those who can, research suggests. Roughly one in five participants failed to pass the test, a percentage that rose in tandem with age – more than one in three (37%) failed between ages 66 and 70. Other studies have made similar connections, with the ability to rise from the floor to a standing position, balance with one eye closed or simply walk at a brisk pace all tied to longevity. Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates was one of the legendary tap dancers of the 20th century. As a young boy, Clayton loved to dance, but when he lost his left leg in a factory accident at age 12, no one thought he would ever walk again, let alone dance. But Clayton’s musical spirit was still alive. Soon he was dancing again, first using crutches, then a peg leg. Within a short time, his peg leg matched the dancing ability of his other leg. Peg Leg Bates performed throughout the United States and Europe, winning the hearts of audiences with his unique style of dancing. He was an amazing showstopper and an inspiration to everyone he met. With determination and a love of life, he turned misfortune into triumph. His most lasting achievement might just be the extraordinary example he set for us all. Let’s Go An estimated 150m people around the world practice tai chi. Posed by models. Photograph: kali9/Getty ImagesJoel Snape demonstrating an easy exercise to help improve balance. Photograph: Adrian Sherratt/The Guardian Easy The one-leg balancing test administered as part of the Japanese study also suggests an association between advanced age and postural instability. Small vessel diseases tend to affect people aged 60 years and more, and in this light, this association seems valid.

Life on one leg | Manchester Libraries

When the researchers returned 13 years later, they found that the tests had all, independently, predicted the chance that someone would die over that period, but the one-legged standing test was the best. Those individuals who lasted less than two seconds were three times more likely to have died than those who held it for 10 seconds or more. According to the findings of the above study, those who could balance themselves for the shortest time also performed the poorest on mental cognition tests. A study performed in 2008 demonstrated that cerebral small vessel disease is associated with cognitive decline. A progression of the disease is associated with greater cognitive decline and the development of typical age-related conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. This indicates that cognitive performance is also a critical indicator of the risk of stroke in people, especially those who struggle to balance themselves on one leg for a minimum of 20 seconds. Implications of the one-leg balancing testEvery child worries about being different. Follow one brave little boy as he embarks on a wild adventure and learns to understand, accept, and love the differences that make him unique. What About Me? I’m Here, Too! I Have a Doll Just Like You! is a children’s story about amputation and limb deficiency. It was written with the goal of teaching children that people come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities. This book is a fictional, illustrated story for children about a little boy with a congenital amputation of his left arm. It also includes a glossary of amputee terminology, a letter to parents and teachers, and a series of discussion starters for families and classrooms. All of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to send children with limb difference to amputee camp. The Journey of NEM These books can help a child with limb difference or limb loss have greater self-esteem as they can identify with characters that “look like me” or are “different like me.” Children can find encouragement to talk about their limb difference openly and answer questions from friends. Some books even help explain how to be fitted for a prosthesis. These books can also be useful for easing fears that children often have about upcoming medical procedures or recovery for themselves, their friends, or an adult in their life. A little boy brings his older brother, born with one hand, for show-and-tell. The students ask him all sorts of questions about how he does things with one hand and realize that he can do anything they can do — he just does it differently. Along the way, they notice that we’re all different in one way or another, leading to the realization that not only are differences a similarity we all share, but they are also what make us unique — and awesome! Emmanuel’s Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah If you experience a sudden, noticeable change in your ability to balance, Lowe says, you should consult a professional – whether it’s caused by a relatively benign inner-ear problem or something more serious, it’s better to be informed. But a slow, barely noticeable decline will be the thing most people should worry about.

Life on One Leg by Sutherland, Tom Scott: Good+ Hardcover

And he said, well you wouldn’t. So we talked about that more and [how] it would be really painful to run on one of those because it’s just not what it’s built for. You’d only do it if you really had to so then it was weighing up well he really has to because of the situation they’re in and yeah, he probably has got some kind of probably quite pain threshold from everything he’s been through and then there’s the point where he can’t go on any more. So there was a fair amount of imagination about it, as well as asking lots of questions." Another study suggests a strong association between lesions in a particular region of the brain resulting from strokes and gait dysfunction. During this study on chronic stroke patients, scientists discovered that subjects who exhibited asymmetrical gait were 60-80% more likely to have suffered some damage to the posterolateral putamen region of their brains than those who had no abnormalities in their postures. Kate was born with symbrachydactyly, a big word for an upper-limb difference. How does a little girl feel about growing up with one hand? How does she answer people’s questions? Here’s Kate’s story in her own words. The Making of My Special Hand: Madison’s Story Tibby the tree swallow cannot fly because he has a crooked wing, but the other animals teach him skills that come in handy when a baby robin falls from its nest. Uniquely BraveWhile each of these books is different, a shared theme throughout is that people with limb loss are still just people and have a lot in common with others. The Amputee Coalition is grateful to the many organizational members and individuals that have contributed to this work. The Amputee Coalition Scientific and Medical Advisory Committee (SciMAC) conducts expert peer view for the Amputee Coalition-commissioned patient education materials. SciMAC contributes clinical and scientific expertise in developing, implementing, and evaluating the Amputee Coalition program and policy initiatives. Everyone is unique. That is one of many things we all have in common. Some of us have two arms and two legs, and some of us don’t. Some of us can see and hear, and some of us can’t. We are all different from one another in many ways, but we are all perfect just the way we are. Bobby is special. He has only one eye, one ear, and one leg, but Bobby is not broken — he is just unique. And he is excited to meet you! So, what are we waiting for? Let’s Play! Little Arm and Me An inability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds in middle to later life is linked to a near doubling in the risk of death from any cause within the next 10 years. The results were published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Dolly’s life was perfect in every way. She was an “only dog,” beloved by her human companions. She got all the attention, all the treats, and all the love a dog could want. But all that changed one day when a tiny striped kitten came into her life — an injured kitty named Henry, who needed lots of tender loving care to recover from losing his leg. Dolly suddenly found herself with an uninvited houseguest — and a cat at that! Her life would never be the same. Dolly lost her special place as the only pet in the house, but she had much to gain. Hers is a story of mixed and confusing feelings. Together, Dolly and her human companions learned many valuable lessons in empathy, understanding, patience and compassion. What’s the Matter with Henry?: The True Tale of a Three-Legged Cat

on one leg for 10 seconds linked to improved health Balancing on one leg for 10 seconds linked to improved health

One in five (21%) failed the test. Over the next decade, 123 died of various causes. After accounting for age, sex, and underlying conditions, an inability to stand unsupported on one leg for 10 seconds was associated with an 84% heightened risk of death from any cause. The story is first and foremost about self-discovery, acceptance and how what may seem impossible to some becomes a reality. It is the meeting of two innocent souls who don’t see each other as “different,” but realize that we are all “different” in our own way and we are all special in our own way. In working through this discovery, feelings of admiration, love and compassion are born and these two “souls” bond as best friends. The story of their meeting is one of love-almost-at-first sight, as they are intrigued and entranced-rather than put off by the differences they see in each other. As they get acquainted, with a nuzzle here and a purr there, their hearts touch … and both are transformed. And the rest, as they say, is history. I Am Sheriauna A common New Year’s resolution is to get fitter. Although people determinedly heave weights or run, they often forget the importance of working on their balance. Worldwide, falls are the most common cause of accidental death after road traffic accidents, and unless you do something about it, your balance will deteriorate as you get older. And having good balance is a powerful predictor of how long and how healthily you will live. The researchers said the study had limitations, including that the participants were all white Brazilians, which means the findings may not be more widely applicable to other ethnicities and nations.Try step ups on to a step or box: put one foot on to a box and push through on that heel to step up so both feet end up together. To ensure you aren’t using your trailing leg to help, keep your toes off the ground on that foot. Progress by using a higher step or by taking your trailing leg up towards your chest. Try 10 with your right leg and then 10 with your left, and add hand weights to build strength.