Yesterday, the physical therapist I have been working with introduced me to the "monster walk". I guess a lumbering sort of waddle-walk seems ominous and therefore what a monster might do to get himself around. To do the monster walk, one steps forward but neither straight ahead nor to the side, but in between, about 45° off straight ahead. One does this sort of walking to strengthen leg, upper thigh and pelvic and abdominal muscles. The therapist says that they are important for joint stability, which means keeping joints, especially the spine, where they should be and not straining them or asking them to move in damaging ways.
To increase strength, muscles need to be "challenged" or stressed. Resistance bands, large bands of stretchy plastic, are wonderful for the job. Lightweight, inexpensive, easy to use and available in all sorts of tension strengths, you can get them online or in retail stores. Our local Wal-Mart and Target carry them. You can get them in resistances of light, medium and heavy. I bought a selection a few years ago and at the time and with that seller, "gold" bands were the highest resistance. I just looked up Academy resistance bands and find that they can be purchased in strengths of 50, 60 and even 100 lbs. I recommend you just go light and use whatever an experienced therapist recommends. Some people, especially men, get all gung-ho and strain something or worse. Naturally, strong irritation, pain and injury put a big damper on plans to be stronger and more fit.
Since the monster walk, going forward and as important or more so, going backward, involves motion, a video can be helpful. I said to the therapist that I bet the monster walk, with resistance band in place was on YouTube. YouTube seems to have everything and I have a difficult time finding anything that isn't already on there. She said that monster walks were on many videos and can be searched out.
