Following a neurologic injury, some people experience a leg that feels stiff, heavy, or both. This can make walking difficult. In this video, you will learn the best exercise routine to relearn how to lift the leg more efficiently and minimize the sensation of having a “heavy leg”.
What causes the leg to feel stiff?
Damage to the neurologic system can cause two problems that significantly impact the body’s ability to move. These are spasticity and abnormal synergy patterns. Spasticity, an involuntary muscle contraction, in the quadriceps (muscles that straighten the knee) can make the knee difficult to bend while walking. This can cause the leg to feel like it is stuck to the ground. An abnormal synergy pattern can also cause the knee to want to stay locked out straight. Both of these movement problems can make the leg feel heavy and make walking difficult
What are the best exercises for a stiff or heavy leg?
The best place to start is lying down with the knees bent. Starting with the knees bent will make it easier to lift the leg. Lying down, can help the body to stay more relaxed and may minimize the impact of the abnormal muscle synergy and spasticity noted above.
Next, try starting with the leg starting from a more extended position.
If that is too difficult, you might want to try using the core max to assist
Next, you can move on to trying to bring the leg forward in standing. Use something under your foot to make it easier to bring forward. I recommend a mini skateboard
Once you can bring the leg straight forward, try adding a step
Once you can lift the leg up onto a small step, try working the end range of hip flexion
One final recommendation that I have is to use a tool to help you work on lifting the leg while walking. A resistance band belt can significantly help to “normalize” your walking pattern if you have a heavy leg.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Heal Documentary Critical Review
Have you ever wondered if a “mind-body connection” exists? In other words, do our thoughts and emotions have an impact on physical health and well-being? And if so, do you believe that if we address our mind, we might experience physical healing from disease? Or, does...
What is breathwork? Beginners guide to therapeutic meditation
What Is Breathwork? A Beginner's Guide To Therapeutic Meditation Breathing is automatic, unconscious, and involuntary. You do it without thinking, both when you’re awake and asleep. It’s what keeps you alive and functioning. But you can also control your breathing if...
“Sustainable” Documentary Film Review
Healthcare spending is growing 1.1% faster than the annual GDP. But as alarming as that number is, just look around. It is hard to ignore the fact that America is getting sicker, fatter, and more depressed. But why? Now, my personal belief is that it is...
Exploring the Interplay Between Cancer Risk, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Unveiling the Pathways to Prevention
In an era where health consciousness is gaining paramount importance, the relationship between cancer risk, physical activity, and obesity has emerged as a significant area of investigation. As you and I - and many of our friends - are impacted by this scary disease,...
Step by Step Guide To Growing Broccoli Sprouts
Sprouting Goodness: A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Broccoli Sprouts Broccoli sprouts are miniature nutritional powerhouses that pack a punch of health benefits. Bursting with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, these tiny green sprouts are known to have 10-100...
The C Word: Film Review
If you have been around the sun enough times, you have probably been impacted by the “C word”. Cancer. With that said, I am sure you are like me in that you have been curious at one time or another…. “am I at risk”? Or maybe, like me, you already know you are at risk...
Hormetic Stress: The Good Stress For A Happy Healthy Life
It’s so easy to be tempted by the allure of comfort. In fact, technology and society have convinced us that this is of the upmost importance. You’re cold? Turn on your thermstat. Don’t like that noise? Drown it out with “white noise”. Feeling hungry? No problem. The...
Beyond Food Review
It can be so easy to get into the “religion” of the latest diet trend. I have been there. This, of course, comes with the inherent risk of a state of utter confusion. Case and point….today, vegetables are “bad”. Or, maybe I got that wrong. Maybe it was meat is bad and...
Changing Food Behavior: Get out of Food Prison
Changing Food Behavior: Easily Give Up Junk Food Changing a food behavior, particularly one that activates the brain’s reward pathways—such as binging on ice cream or sugary drinks while watching a movie, requires an insane amount of willpower. It’s tough to change...
Fed Up Review
For most of my life I believed that the food pyramid was intended to keep me healthy. In the 80’ and 90’s I believed fat would make me sick and low fat foods were the road to optimal health. In the late 90’s I thought that dairy was good for me. Eggs and high-fat meat...