Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: Bad Back/Hips gear
|
Author | Message Text | ||
Grandma L |
quote WHendrix: "I'll be 74 this year during our annual trip. I'm in pretty good shape with only minor mobility issues, but I'll second everything that has been said with regards to a chair, a good sleeping pad, and a pillow. I also find a walking staff helpful. The other (probably most important) thing I bring along is someone way younger than I am to do the heavy lifting." Yup, WHendrix, The young Sherpa is essential! |
||
LilyPond |
Mattress: Exped Synmat 3-D 7 or REI Campbed 3.5. Chair: Helinox Sunset (their highest seat) 2 hiking poles Toilet: bucket raised up another 6" As a general rule, a height of 15" is comfortable to get up from, whether chair, cot, or toilet. For the above setup you will need a 4-person tent. 3Ps don't accommodate a tall cot. You know, 70 is the new 50 but only if people take care of themselves. Backs are hard to fix, I know, but hips are not. You can replace a hip for $1000 with Medicare and the recovery time isn't that long---about 3 months. Improvement in quality of life: 1000%. If I were 70 years old I would get new hips and have another 10 years of active, pain-free living. Well worth the effort. Osteoarthritis of the hip often causes back problems, as does being sedentary. The muscle that runs from the top of the thigh into the lower back (the hip flexor muscle) becomes chronically tight when people sit too much, causing extreme pain in the lower back. You can't force people to address their ailments, but today there are excellent remedies for certain problems for people who want to enjoy life again. |
||
overthehill |
Maybe a hi-back canoe seat like a crazy creek canoe seat? If you base camp you might check out a "coffee sack chair" also called the "amazing wilderness chair" (a recent thread in general discussion forum labeled 'bush craft' has a pic. The only drawback is you need 3 straight poles 6+ feet long and downed poles can take awhile to find sometimes. BUT they are highly adjustable to customize the height and angle. Very comfy and all you portage is a folded "feed bag" size cloth. All else I can think of has been mentioned. Just make it an easy route and take your time. |
||
x2jmorris |
I am looking to make my dad's life easier and figured you would have some ideas. He is almost 70 and his back and hips are in poor condition....and no he won't do anything about it at this time. Biggest problem is him getting stiff and I know he has issues with low areas...for example it's tough for him to get in and out of my car cause it is low. Moving on though, I would like to buy him some stuff that may make his BWCA experiences more enjoyable. For the portages I usually carry everything and he only carries what he feels he can or wants to. So portaging isn't really of concern. However, spending time in the canoe is and so is relaxing at camp are issues. So my question is what are some things that you use, have used, have heard about, etc... that might make life easier? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. |
||
Savage Voyageur |
|
||
walllee |
|
||
MagicPaddler |
|
||
tarnkt |
quote walllee: "a canoe seat with a backrest is also worth their weight in gold." I couldn't agree more. I've tried a few and the most comfortable for me is the GCI Sitbacker. It is as rock solid as sitting in my dining room chair. The downside is they weigh 3 pounds so you will probably want one on each seat to balance the canoe while portaging |
||
AdamXChicago |
AdamX |
||
boonie |
Core strength and flexibility is good; if he won't do the exercises, a back brace can help. I'll also second the ThermaCare wrap/patches. Sitting is bad for me, walking is good. The longer I sit, the stiffer I get. Bending and squatting are tough - don't make him do those things. A good thick sleeping pad helps. |
||
Grandma L |
A good chair, walking sticks, good sleeping pads. I have had a variety of disabilities, knees, back, sholder. Several of these have brought stiffness and also bad balance. Here is what I learned. I would suggest some really good walking sticks. I use them a lot getting in and out of the canoe. I can put them in the water at a landing and use them to stabalize. They help on tricky portages. They really help. Also, good sleeping pad is important so he gets a good night's sleep. I use an Exped Synmat and add a layer of closed cell foam under it. The chair is important. Test it at home to make sure it is comfortable. |
||
Northwoodsman |
|
||
WHendrix |
|