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I have bad joints but that's because I have arthritis in my family gene pool. Also, what trouble I do have came more from unavoidable accidents than from me walking digitigrade. Take my dislocated knee — it happened when I was in a mosh pit, and it would have happened whether I was on my toes or on my heels. In fact I've dodged incoming bodies etc. handily because I was walking on my toes.

Digitigrade = enhanced agility.

True. Very true.

Odd thing: Recently, I tried standing/moving completely plantigrade, and found it clumsy, very uncomfortable, and slow. Part of that is, I'm sure, simply because I've became used to the added agility given by moving digitigrade, but should plantigrade really be that uncomfortable? My legs don't seem to particularily like straightening out all the way at this point. Not that I'm complaining; I've gotten into the habit of doing things like jumping down entire flights of stairs, and chances are I'd break something and/or fall flat on my face if I landed in a normal stance. It would be interesting to study how exactly moving like this effects a still-developing bone structure (I admit it, I'm a teenager). Perhaps things are, at this age when everything configures itself for use as it's used, modified to favor such forms of movement. If that's the case, I feel lucky. If it's something more sinister; oh well, as Scott said, it's better than smoking, and I've frequently lectured you all on how I believe that the technology to fix any nasty side effects and more should be available within our lifetimes.

Ralith Lupus wrote:I've gotten into the habit of doing things like jumping down entire flights of stairs

Speaking of jumping off things, I like doing that too! My favorite place to jump from is the roof of my friend's one level house. I also used to jump down the stairs. But for a while now, I haven't done anything like that. It's sad: age makes you more "dignified" and/or too lazy to do fun things like that anymore.

Also, I've found that moving digitigrade and without shoes helps me run faster and be more agile. I've even played soccer barefoot. But once again, age came creeping up on me and, well, you know the rest.

I still jump down stairs, I'm always taking the last half of the stairs in my house in a flying leap. You can see the area on the wall where I use my hand to change direction.

I'm to old to jump stairs. I'll mess up my back if I land incorrectly.

Figarou wrote:I'm to old to jump stairs. I'll mess up my back if I land incorrectly.

See? There's that "age" problem again!

Lazywolf wrote:

Figarou wrote:I'm to old to jump stairs. I'll mess up my back if I land incorrectly.

See? There's that "age" problem again!

Just wait till your my age. You'll know what I'm talking about.

Figarou wrote:Just wait till your my age. You'll know what I'm talking about.

Yeeah. I was just referring to my other post above where I blame age for stuff.

side note 1: post #100 for me!
side note 2: I turn 19 in a few days!

I have noticed that I am a whole lot more agile, I've started walking like that whereever I go now, I used to just do it at home. It's a little harder since I like to wear big heavy boots though.

I'd advise you to lose the boots; ye really can't enjoy the benefits of moving digitigrade when encumbered by such inflexible monstrosities. Admittedly, I need to get around barefoot more; my feet are far too pampered by socks and shoes these days. In that vein, I'm even lacking decent shoes for it myself, but they're not exactly the worst.

You're not alone. There's a whole movement of people who like to go barefoot.

Barefooting.

I try to go barefoot whenever I can. I take my shoes off in my entry hall when I come home and it's barefoot, barefoot, barefoot unless I'm doing woodworking. Then I need the support and protection that boots give.

Lazywolf wrote:side note 1: post #100 for me!
side note 2: I turn 19 in a few days!

Hmm, I'm actually older than you are.

Figarou wrote:

Lazywolf wrote:

Figarou wrote:I'm to old to jump stairs. I'll mess up my back if I land incorrectly.

See? There's that "age" problem again!

Just wait till your my age. You'll know what I'm talking about.

I don't have to wait. I have a bad back myself but I'll still take a flying leap down the stairs.

Reilune wrote:

Figarou wrote:

Lazywolf wrote:

Figarou wrote:I'm to old to jump stairs. I'll mess up my back if I land incorrectly.

See? There's that "age" problem again!

Just wait till your my age. You'll know what I'm talking about.

I don't have to wait. I have a bad back myself but I'll still take a flying leap down the stairs.

I had my back go out just by picking up a quarter off the ground.


Yes, I bent at the knees.

Lupin wrote:Hmm, I'm actually older than you are.

Yep, looks like almost 4 years older! Just curious: How old didja think I was?

I dunno. I don't really think about those things.

I dont have any trouble with my back, the only bones thats weak is some of my fingers, I fractured them 4 or 5 times.

I think Scott can explain this better than me.

You know how it is when you crack your knuckles? Well, its the same thing in my lower spine. It gets stiff and I need to "crack it." I learned a method where you place your hand on your hip and then push sideways. I can feel my lower spine "pop." After that, my back feels a little better until it gets stiff again.


Now then. You know that reaction you get when you place your hand in somethnig hot? That reaction is pulling your hand away very fast. The stiff spine pinches the nerve when you make a wrong movement. Then the muscles around it reacts the same way as if it was something hot. They tighten up so much that I can't even move. Its like I was stabbed with a knife.


I really hate that feeling.

I have never had any problems with my bones.

Miguel wrote:I have never had any problems with my bones.

Wait till your older.

I do the same thing with my spine Fig.

No,I have strong bones seriously. I have fallen from the top of a moving truck and landed on my knees. All I got were some bruises but it seriously hurt.

Figarou wrote:You know how it is when you crack your knuckles? Well, its the same thing in my lower spine. It gets stiff and I need to "crack it." I learned a method where you place your hand on your hip and then push sideways. I can feel my lower spine "pop." After that, my back feels a little better until it gets stiff again.

Yeah, I have to do that when I sit for very long periods of time.

I can pop my chest.....can you.