Today is your day Boomer! In just two days time, I will join the "hip parade" in Canada...that large number of mostly Boomers that have undergone hip replacement surgery. How many? Well according to cihi.ca, "In 2021–2022, more than 117,000 hip and knee replacements were performed in Canada, which is 5.9% more compared with the previous year, but still lower than the annual number performed before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, more than $1.26 billion was spent on hospital costs." That's a lot of new metal, titanium, plastic and carbon injected into our bodies and a ton of money! Done in a private clinic, the cost is about 20,000-28,000 dollars. In public health, the wait list varies, but it is usually over a half year(I was seven months) and for many the pain is truly unbearable. Many are walking with canes, can't make it around the block, and are popping pills or getting injections to reduce their suffering. At one point last spring, I could hardly walk for about a month as my hip was collapsing. Monday is a BIG day for me. But many of us are in the same boat....er, hip ship.
Today is your day Boomer! Baby Boomers, another health benefit is back! It is backward walking and the trend-often associated with the 1980s-is making a return as grey-haired wonders, like you and I, look for new-or-newish ideas to help keep us fit! According to cbc.ca, "walking backwards has shown that there's less impact on the joints by using these different muscles — and it can increase flexibility and even help alleviate back pain." One 62-year-old Boomer says "Every time I walk, I just do a little twirl and walk backwards for a bit, and I'll do it just a few times during my walk." It may look a little unusual and may get a few laughs from passersby....by consider the actual benefits. Clinical exercise specialist André Noël Potvin says "When you start to walk backwards, you actually start to rebalance the forces around the ankle, knee, hip and lower back." This really helps Boomers recovering from knee surgery and older Boomers who are havi...

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