Heel to Toe

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hiya guy's

I've come across this a few times on here, just wanted to ask may be a silly question, but how does the walking heel to toe have such a big affect 😁

I would thought this is how you naturally walk no 😮

Any help or advice most appreciated.

Stay safe. Pete 😎

2

When you walk correctly it's always heal to toe, obviously when you have to restrict weight bearing you tend to walk on your toes, heel to toe is better for you because it encourages circulation forcing blood back up the leg, it's a pump action.

3

I worked out with a physical therapist for about 6 weeks after my surgery.  One of my exercise concentrated on the heel to toe walking motion.  I practiced it a lot at home also.  I have NO LIMP whatsoever, so hey I think it is necessary.  Good luck on your recover.  

4

Good to know!! THANKS for this!!♡

5

Many thanks for your reply and information, I'm still waiting on the list for my op, just wanted to ask as I'd seen it a few times and it made me think. Interesting on the blood circulation fact, that can only be a good thing yep😁

Thanks again for the replies.

Stay Safe. Pete 😃

6

It just works ... those who have been here a while will remember Renee who always told us of the benefits of walking heel-to-toe.

 

7

Strengthens the leg and foot muscles.  Encourages venous return in the legs. Walking on the heels stretches the calf muscles and strengthens the foot extensors. Walking on the toes strengthens the calf muscles and stretches the frequently shortened toe extensors.

Been a game changer for me. 

8

I read from many on here (including Renee) about walking heel to toe.  Yes it worked for me.  I believe that over the time that our hip was painful our bodies compensated for the pain and our method of walking changed.  Making yourself walk properly and ensuring every single step is done correctly after surgery retrains our bodies.  In other words we have to learn to walk again so that it is done correctly.

9

Hi Pete,

I had right THR via  Superpath method on Dec 4. Knew i needed the replacement for 9 yrs prior, and although I was not bone on bone when i decided it was time; 9 yrs of compensating for a bad hip totally changes how you walk. 1st thing I asked the therapist was show me how to walk without a limp. Heel to toe was it. You literally have to relearn how to walk correctly even though you think you know how to do it. I only went to therapy 3 times, but practiced at home alot.  I was also working with a trainer, and what she did was have me hold a kettle bell in the opposite hand and walk heel to toe. That naturally makes you shift your weight correctly.  It seems weird that we would need to relearn something as simple, but we do.  Walking after surgery was best way to heal..but consciously doing heel  toe  until one day it just happened. Good luck to you. 

10

Hey Gerri, hope you are well! All good here.  (The lido finally reopened in May, lovely swimming outside again...)

11

GREAT info Gerryberri!! Thankyou!

12

Hi Judith, 

​How are you?   Wow.. its been long enough that the outdoor pool finally opened. Yea!  I'm sure you are so happy. How is everything?  Everything great with me. Been on tennis courts for about 3 months now.. Cant believe Surgery was 6 months ago.  Best thing I ever did..  I've been in touch with Martin, he's recouping from the 2nd hip surgery and doing really well.. Every now and then hear from Gary, but not lately. All I can say is I am grateful to be 100% normal.. lol. . and back to doing everything in life without a thought or a pain.  What's been doing with you?   I'm very rarely on this website, but one of my neighbors just went through Anterior surgery and is having a really bad time.. 10 days postop.. so I just popped on here to see other peoples experience with it.  I hope she's out of pain and doing better soon.. I don't want to refer her to this website, because I think reading about the bad stuff could really scare her. I'm hoping in time she will be feeling better. Another friend of mine needs her hip done.. and she wants to see the Surgeon that Dr Chow taught, who is here in Vegas. It will be interesting to see if he is doing Superpath or prefers another method. Let me know how you are doing!  Great to hear from you! xox

13

You are quite welcome!  

14

Great that you are back playing tennis again! My sister is a keen tennis player, and she’s having her hip replaced next week. I’ll tell her about you. My hip is great, although it was aching a bit this week, first time for ages. My fault, I was skipping around with my class! I need to take care. Impact on the joint I suppose. Apart from that, all good. Swimming regularly, walking, biking, skiing in the winter. 

Take care, Judith xx

15

Heel to Toe walking (extremely slow to start with to get the action right) is a great way to learn to walk again. I used to waddle like a penguin before my TRHR & I have no limp now.

16

Hi Judith, I just noticed your interest in playing tennis after Hip Replacement.  I am one year after my LHR- Anterior method.  I was allowed to go back to playing tennis after 3 months.  It is so nice to be able to move around the court without pain.  I will say I really didn’t start playing competitively until about 4 1/2 months after surgery.  But I am on three tennis teams right now, just won a three set, three hour match yesterday.  So glad I had the surgery, I feel like I got my life back!  Good luck to your sister.

17

That’s great news, I will tell my sister, thanks so much! Hope you have many good matches ahead, love Judith

18

Hi Judith!

How funny are you skipping around..and good for you to be able to skip. Lol 😆 Glad to hear you are doing so well. The major thing I had to get passed when 1st getting on the court, was the forward bending motion of my right leg..since it reLly hasn’t done that in sooo long.  Now it’s too hot here unless I want to play at 7 am. Something to be said about working from home at 7 am.. but getting dressed and out hy 6:30 doesn’t do it for me. Lol Tell your sister she will be back on the courts in no time. Look how great staceymaz is doing. And there is 2 different methods for you. I wonder where Stacey had hers done?What method is your sister going to do? Taking a friend for surgery consult Monday..there is a surgeon here that does Superpath...learned from Dr Chow, who I used. I’ll be curious if he does enough of them to feel comfortable doing it that way. My recovery was so easy that’s what she wants, but she needs to have done method by which surgeon is most comfortable and has a great success rate. 

Always great to hear from you. So glad you are so great!! Keep us posted on your sisters surgery. Sending much love your way!! 😘 

19

Hi, I had my surgery at Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, Ca.  Best surgeon in Orange County for Hip Replacemnts- Dr. Gorab.  Several of the ladies from my tennis club have used him for Hip Replacemt.  We are all back on the courts, and on the ski slope.