Way to go! You look fantastic in that skating dress. What courage to post the fat pic too! I know I would never be able to do that.

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Thanks!! Courage was getting away from the wall for my wimpy waltz jumps!!

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Indeed, me neither, although there are one or two fat pics of me on my website.

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I resurrect this thread not because of bad knees (although my old "sit-spin knee" sometimes gives me problems), but I was wondering if any of you have problems with your back.

I have been having a really rough fall/winter -- I don't know if it's from skating, or falling a few times or ????????? but I have a constant backache in the mid-portion of my back (lower thoracic) that extends around my ribs to my xiphoid process (lower sternum). It is worse from sitting down, better standing and lying.

I have been to my regular internist, an osteopath, chiropractor, PT and acupuncturist. All of their treatments give me some relief for a few hours and then it's back to being somewhat intolerable. I took some time off from skating and work for a while to see if I just needed a rest... no real change.

The osteopath told me I should skate everyday. Well, that sounded like a great prescription but after 5 days I noticed that my back hurt when I was skating and especially anything to do with checking my arms (which I do all the time when I skate, so it makes it hard...) --

Anyway, just wondering what sorts of back issues you guys might have encountered -- maybe from skating, maybe not...

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

Have you gone to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine? These specialists know the correct exercises to recommend for strengthening the muscles that are needed for support.

I hadn't really thought about that, but it is a good idea. I am starting to "think outside the box" as it were and thinking of asking some of my skating buddies (the younger ones) who they see -- I tend to go to a certain group of people who I know in my area -- holistic practitioners that I study yoga with, etc., but no one knows a thing about skating and what it does to your body...

I think I also need to learn to stretch more before skating, but not hurt myself. I would appreciate any and all input on this one! (Maybe I will start a new thread).

Thanks.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

I started skating at 37 and when I started learning the loop I had pain on the inside of my knees. It turned out that I was not bending my knee straight out over my 2nd toe, instead my knee bent inward. I went to a physical therapist to learn exercises BEFORE damaging my knees (they have always been a little creaky from too much skiing anyway). I now bend my knee straight on landing and if I keep up my exercises and use ice when sore (and some glucosamine daily) they are pretty good. Leaning forward on jumps hurts the knees, good technique doesn't. Also women do tend to have a weak VMO (the little quad on the inner side above the knee). Leg extensions holding the weight when in full extension strengthens it. I can do this at home with leg weights (heavy ones), or the gym is really good.
In addition I always wear soft volley pads on my knees during practice. It only takes one good trip over the toepick to crack a patella and I don't even want to go there. Who wants to get injured in practice?

Me too, but I fell off ice twice in the past two months! Maybe I should wear those kneepads all the time!

icedancer2 If you can tolerate ibuprofen, I suggest trying up to 600mg a day (one 200mg OTC tab three times a day with food) for at least two weeks. It has to build up in your blood, so you do need to keep it up for those two weeks. Also, even though you feel better when lying down, I highly recommend a memory foam mattress or 2 1/2" topper. Since I got my topper ($99 at Costco), my shoulders no longer hurt, and I'm able to sleep on my back for the first time in about 20 years. If I had a standard sized bed, I would spring for the big bucks for a tempurpedic mattress.

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Thanks -- these are good ideas. I tried Tylenol, but it didn't do much. I've taken some advil in the last couple of days, and things are starting to feel better. Also thinking about the memory foam topper. I will have to find that thread where we discussed the pros and cons of these and which were the best -- I remembered that you liked the Costco one -- we're not Costco members but I could probably borrow someone's card.

Since I wrote this, I tried just lying on my back on the floor on the pad with a heating pad -- placing tennis ball and spikey ball under my pelvis, sacrum, thoracic ribs and spine for a hour -- I felt much better when I stood up. I tried it again this morning and my skating session went better. I'll do it again this afternoon.

I think I just need to learn to REALLY relax and quit pushing myself so much -- life has just been pushing on me and I have to really learn how to do things differently. Strange, I've been meditating for 30 years and now I REALLY have to learn how to relax...

Life's odd like that I guess.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

I'm glad to hear you are feeling better. I hope you can resolve the problem completely soon. In just the past two weeks, I've had two six year old beginners in group who were so scared that they had completely stiffened up. One kept complaining that her chest hurt, and I realized that it was all muscle tension! Poor little things!

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You guys are awesome!
I started skating about a year ago (at 49) in an Adult Pre-Alpha Plus, mostly to get out and do something different with my daughters. They come and go but I have stuck with it, really starting to get serious the last 2 months. Up till then it was just crawling around in the over-populated group lessons. I've dropped 22 (from 240 to 218) in the last 6 months.

It hasn't been just the skating though, per se. For me, "just" skating" isn't anywhere near enough. The skating has given new meaning and "cause" to off-ice workouts in the gym. It has made the aerobic workouts "meaningful" and lower body workouts, to some degree tolerable.

It has been very satisfying to have folx at work (and even my kids piano teacher) notice how much better I was looking. But, the most interesting "side effect" has been feedback that I have gotten over looking "taller". I am already 6'2". Then I realized what they were referring to ..
improvement in posture. (I have a tendency to lean forward a bit while stroking.) I fully expect to go down another 25 in the next year.

wrt muscle soreness ... my calves were the 1st to go also; with the lower back a close 2nd. But again, over a couple of months of consistent off-ice aerobic and lower body work, that is long gone ... and the knee bend is getting better and better.

Keep up the great work!!!

Joe

wisniew: Congrats on your progress!!! I bet you feel a whole lot better!

icedancer2: If anything, maybe try Pilates to strengthen the core muscles-it has really helped me after my auto accident. I still have the muscle spasms (upper back and shoulders), but not as bad (I keep putting off those massages, even though it would feel wonderful ).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

skate: Hope that this isn't off topic but your reference to "core control" is as you know, oh so critical. Somewhat along those lines, does anyone know where to get an "ankle rocker". I am not talking about the circular piece of wood. It is a square (3 in X 3 in or so) metal "platform". I saw it in Carl Poe's "Conditioning for Skating ..." book. I have not been able to find it anywhere on the web, etc.

Joe

Did you try http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=UTF8&v=glance

I searched under the term "ankle stretcher" at Amazon.com but you could google or yahoo it also.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Close, but that reference doesn't appear to have a lateral (edgework) "degree of freedom" to it.

I have the book by Poe but I don't do that stretch. I would imagine that you could improvise with a piece of wood or a phone book so it runs the length of your foot and have your foot 1/2 way off of it and stretch it that way.

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

go to www.fitterfirst.com
there is a ton of sports training stuff (wobble boards, ankle rockers, balls, therabands etc.).

I know I should be doing some Pilates, but at this point the Drs. and therapists are just recommending some very light yoga and stretching, plus skating (!) -- I would like to find a Pilates teacher who is into "Pilates therapy" and not just the hard-core "get in shape now" type.

Then of course there is all of the $$$ I'm spending -- yikes! Even with insurance, this is not cheap, folks!

Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate the input.

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Is Portland the only city with it's own ice-dance website? http://www.pdxicedance.net/

The Pilates I do isn't hard-core, although at first my abs were sore.... it felt more like a yoga class, though.

We haven't had it since Christmas break though and i miss it. I've only done the moves sporadically (I'm lazy unless $$$ has been spent).

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Skate@Delaware
Ah, show skating!!! I do it for the glitter!

Well this thread deserves to be revived! I didn't see it when i joined - too far back in the pile!

I've posted elsewhere but I'll post here again to join the ranks of returning old timers and late beginners

I'm 56 years old and skated from14 to 19 fairly seriously. An injury, marriage, and a career took me away from skating until last month. Like so many, I was carrying too much weight, out of shape and had simply grown lazy

Following my spill in 1968 my knees had bothered me for years but in January I was watching figure skating on TV and realized I hadn't had a knee "go out" in many years. "So why aren't you skating?" I asked myself - and I didn't have an answer!

So, being a "Type A" personality, I bought skates (Jackson Competitor boots and MK Pro blades) and hit the ice again (yes, in more ways that one). I skate 3 days a week with 2 different clubs and have about 10 hours ice time since my return 3 weeks ago. Things are coming back slowly but I still don't have all my edges back yet - it's coming. On non-skating days I do exercises to improve my balance, knee stregth, and flexability. I haven't lost as much weight as I'd like but it's coming. Those HUGE thighs and calves from my youth ("skater's legs") have certainly toned up and I can start to feel some of the power again.

I have lined up spring and summer skating and dearly hope to start working on my "skills" (moves in the field) before next fall. Although I didn' t go through the testing program when I was young, I intend to have a shot at it now!

Welcome back everyone! I am proud to be in such good company! GREY POWER!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

As a returner after 20+ years to skating, and a new-comer to the boards, I'd really like to say a very (unBritish!) 3 cheers for this thread. As I wrestle with the challenge of taking risks (undoubtedly my biggest problem) on ice and fitting in this redisovered passion with the rest of my life, I shall recall all your contributions - so thank you muchly!

I don't have much to add to the details of creaking knees, backs etc because mine don't so much creak as refuse to bend the way they did and yes, that is almost certainly because aforementioned joints are carrying a post-children figure these days. I do struggle a bit with another challenge - MS. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in my early 30s and it is very variable in its effects. So far, so good with limited impact on skating except when I'm mid-relapse. But the temptation to explain a bad skating day with reference to the MS is huge - maybe as we get older we all are all too quick to be all doom and gloom and try too hard to explain what we just accepted as an 'off day' when we were young and carefree?!

We certainly are a mixed bunch.

The way I look at is this; I'm grateful to skate again. If I dropped dead from a heart attack on the ice, my only regret will be that I didn't get to skate better before it happened.

I'm determined to enjoy every skating minute I've got left before something stops me doing it.

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Karen

I skate - therefore I am

What a great attitude and I love your signature!

Sooky, are you in the UK? Where are you skating?

Yes, there are plenty of us 50+ skaters around. The other day, Husband commented as he got on the ice before our practice that, "He had thought this was a sport for young girls, so how come the only people on the ice were middle-aged men?"

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Mrs Redboots
~~~~~~~~
I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

Hi Mrs Redboots, yes I am in the UK - skating and having lessons at Guildford Spectrum but quite often practising at Streatham. Though I'm not nearly good enough to deserve private ice time, so I only show up in the public sessions at Streatham on weekday mornings - I am guessing you're so good that you're only there in the earlier private sessions?!

I'm a bit sad actually because this coming week is half-term so that means packed rinks and no opportunity to practise properly outside of my lesson - do you think it'll be back to square one when I return to the ice in about 10 days time? My skills feel so tentative and new that I reckon the smallest thing could steal them from me!