The title is from a book titled Food Worship. Being born in the late '50s, I would call myself a late Baby Boomer. Growing up in New York and attending college in the east, I've seen my share of Yuppies.
I physically don't enjoy the act of exercising. I don't mind what I do to pass the time but that is not the motive itself. I do it both out of necessity as well as liking the results.
Before Shenzhen, I would visit the YMCA once or twice a week, do Pilates with Lily once a week, and go on an exercise bike at home on the other days of the week. The emphasis would be "balance neutral" activities.
Since our trip to Asia, the emphasis shifted to sustaining and enhancing the skills taught by the various therapists to put the stem cells to use. Exercises taught and practiced in China would be duplicated if possible. Easiest among these was adding some weights for arm exercises. Not losing the strength I had before is another story.
Yesterday was my first visit to the local YMCA since returning. I wasn't so much panting as certain muscles were quivering near the end of the repetitions. Muscles that were used to 70 pounds two months ago were trembling at the same settings.
It has become apparent that after just a month of disuse, muscles can very easily atrophy. Avoiding injury has a renewed importance. I can't wait to see how Pilates goes at the end of the week.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
I wish I had an answer to that, because I'm tired of answering that question
The title is another Yogi Berra-ism. The question I am referring to of course is, 'Have I noticed any improvement?" I did not mean to be cynical in my response to this question. Everyone asking has been sincerely wishing me good luck. I just thought it was an amusing quote.
For those who don't know who Yogi Berra is, he is a former NY Yankee baseball catcher in the late '40s and '50s and manager in the '60s. See http://www.yogiberra.com/yogi-isms.html for his web site and some of his other quotes.
The answer is yes, I have noticed change, mostly improvement. I attribute this to both the intensive therapy and the stem cells. The way I think of it, most tasks require a combination of strength and control. Muscles can easily atrophy from disuse thus losing their strength. Therapy and acupuncture help restore this. Control is via the brain. The fresh stem cells are intended to rejuvenate this. Without both, neither effort alone isn't brought to its maximum benefit.
Some of the specifics in my case are as follows. I've updated this web site with a final handwriting sample (see below). While folks' comments have ranged from the samples look "comparable" to "some improvement" to "noticeable improvement", I can say that my writing is tighter and more controlled, and my hand cramps less. The former would be due to stem cells while the latter I would attribute to therapy (i.e. hand strengthening exercises and hand massage).
Another example is upright walking. I still use a walker. However, I have a narrower gait and I look straight ahead more so (rather than down at my feet). I always had the strength to do the walking. I think the stem cells helped improved the control. However, many of the physical therapy exercises were geared to reteaching the brain what had been forgotten after years of disuse.
I plan to revisit both my local neurologist and Dr. Perlman @UCLA within the next two weeks for an "after" picture. Hopefully, I can present a less subjective view after these appointments.
On a separate note, many friends have wanted to welcome us back home, often by offering to eat out together. With doctor's appointments and jet lag, our availability has been somewhat limited in the past week. We wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes and kind gestures and look forward to getting together and thanking you personally soon.
For those who don't know who Yogi Berra is, he is a former NY Yankee baseball catcher in the late '40s and '50s and manager in the '60s. See http://www.yogiberra.com/yogi-isms.html for his web site and some of his other quotes.
The answer is yes, I have noticed change, mostly improvement. I attribute this to both the intensive therapy and the stem cells. The way I think of it, most tasks require a combination of strength and control. Muscles can easily atrophy from disuse thus losing their strength. Therapy and acupuncture help restore this. Control is via the brain. The fresh stem cells are intended to rejuvenate this. Without both, neither effort alone isn't brought to its maximum benefit.
Some of the specifics in my case are as follows. I've updated this web site with a final handwriting sample (see below). While folks' comments have ranged from the samples look "comparable" to "some improvement" to "noticeable improvement", I can say that my writing is tighter and more controlled, and my hand cramps less. The former would be due to stem cells while the latter I would attribute to therapy (i.e. hand strengthening exercises and hand massage).
Another example is upright walking. I still use a walker. However, I have a narrower gait and I look straight ahead more so (rather than down at my feet). I always had the strength to do the walking. I think the stem cells helped improved the control. However, many of the physical therapy exercises were geared to reteaching the brain what had been forgotten after years of disuse.
I plan to revisit both my local neurologist and Dr. Perlman @UCLA within the next two weeks for an "after" picture. Hopefully, I can present a less subjective view after these appointments.
On a separate note, many friends have wanted to welcome us back home, often by offering to eat out together. With doctor's appointments and jet lag, our availability has been somewhat limited in the past week. We wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes and kind gestures and look forward to getting together and thanking you personally soon.
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