Don't Just Sit There...

By Ron Blehm (10 May 2006)

Chip Barber recently released his "Ode to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" on this web site. This piece has prompted me to draft this quick and dirty reply: No, I am not a doctor either and I also spent a dozen or so years loading patients into the back of ambulances when I was a Firefighter/EMT in the Los Angeles area. But I digress...I am now a Physical Therapist ("Physio" in some parts of the world) and Chip made reference to something that has been nagging me (pun intended) for some time as well - repetitive injuries in flight simming. (Do I hear a new research publication coming?)

Studies have shown the repetitive activities or postures can have a deleterious (that's not good) effect on the body and our health. Sedentary "Western" lifestyles (not to mention fast, greasy, hydrogenated foods) are a major contributors to obesity, diabetes, certain cancers and heart problems which are a growing ('nother pun) problem in the world. Chip mentioned savoring life today and that's good. I would add that there's nothing quite like, literally, simming yourself into an early grave by sitting on your big fat posterior, flying that add-on into...wherever today's simming journey takes you. (I'm currently flying a FIFA feature in Germany if anyone cares to know.) No, you don't have to join a soccer league (you may give yourself a heart attack if you have to run beyond the goalies box) but while Otto is flying the plane along, there certainly isn't any harm in getting up and doing some stretching, some calisthenics or pulling on a bungee cord! (Just don't let the cord slip, you could put an eye out - and then landing would be a bit more difficult!) Don't overdo of course, but get up and do something for crying out loud.

Here are some quick pointers:

Walking - it's non impact and can be done without $700 worth of equipment (save your money for add-ons)
Standing back bends - most of our daily lives have us bending over the sink, over the stove, over the desk, toward the monitor, etc. Take a break and bend backwards, "C'mon, do de limbo mon"
Push ups - do them from the knees, from the toes and also from the hips, bowing yourself backwards.
Rowing - if we spend our day leaning forward, we need to keep the back strong so we can remain upright (not hunched like a bunch of 101-year olds)
Hamstrings - lie on your back on the floor, bring one knee up toward your chest and grasp hands behind the knee. Now, slowly straighten your foot skyward (where the real planes fly) until a stretch is felt behind the knee. Hold that for a 10-count.
Hurdle stretch - stand up, step back from your chair, put one foot up onto your chair (don't let it roll away or you might tear something you need!) lean your hips forward into the chair until a gentle stretch is felt through the...the...hips or groin area.
Arm circles - known 'round here as the V22 Osprey! Make circles out to the side as well as overhead. (You can use this exercise after you nail a tough landing!)
Crossover - Lay on your back on the floor, grasp one knee with the opposite hand and gently stretch across your body
http://www.stretching.com/products/charts.asp

Taking a three-minute break every 30 minutes is only about an hour out of your day, leaving 30 minutes to walk and 22.5 hours to sim. That 90 minutes may keep you from getting repetitive, overuse injuries which likely will take waaaaaaay more than 90 minutes to get over!

Ron Blehm
pretendpilot@yahoo.com

Discuss This in our Outer Marker (Feedback) Forum.

[ Back | Home | Main Menu | Logout | Help ]