medical press
Your arms are one of the greatest aids in maintaining your balance, especially when it’s icy. Start with your hands, and wear gloves. Gloves keep your hands warm and out of your pockets, which frees up your arms so you can extend them out from your sides to improve your ability to stay upright.
Your feet also aid in balance. Assume that all wet, dark areas on pavements are slippery and icy. Slow down, take short, careful steps at first, and then adjust your pace to surface conditions. Or walk like a penguin. Point your feet slightly outward, and put your center of gravity directly over your feet as much as possible. More
Video demonstrating the penguin walk Watch
This advice is only for people who like to video idiots falling on ice as they waddle like penguins.
Invest in Traction Cleats:
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-traction-cleats.html
https://gearjunkie.com/winter/best-winter-traction-devices
https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/shop/traction-devices/
The very best way to avoid injury from falling on ice is not to walk on ice. There are multiple ways to do this but the simplest is to move to Florida. 👌
Cleveburg here – I’m over 70 and have yet to fall on ice, (now I’ve jinxed myself) except when I wuz much younger and fartin around! Slipped yes, but can still recover… comically.
In other news I have been known to go almost 60MPH tobogganing on ice!
Other times I just Walk Like a Man!
(I did never master that falsetto thing)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj9m98GmTnY
A lady at work walked like that – all the time. She was short and took 6 inch strides, it was hilarious to watch. But seriously, watch you step out there, I had a slip and fall on an icy sidewalk and broke a femur.
Bet there’s a link to the Bangles posted before this thread is over.
There’s something several times more slippery than ice.
The tile by my front door. Don’t walk on that with wet shoes, you’ll end up on your ass 100%.
People created videos to explain this?
Why do I suspect millions in taxpayer dollars were wasted on some gubmint study…
@ecp — Yeah, man, I got some tiles like that! I go in and out via my garage!
But the slipperiest stuff I ever experienced was in the early days of anti-lock brakes. I somehow got invited to participate in an Audi “experience focus group” and got to try out their tech (which worked great, BTW). On a Sunday, they had rented an otherwise idle parking lot without obstructions and tacked down long strips of Teflon panels wide enough for only one side of the cars’ tires to roll on, and a line of traffic cones close in on both sides. We’d approach at speed and once on the Teflon, stand on the brakes. The cars would yaw a little but keep going in a straight line. Cones unhit. But the REAL convincer was when their tech still work like a champ when they sprayed the Teflon with ArmorAll. Now, THAT was slick!
@Jethro — Those bucks weren’t wasted, they help some bureaucrat’s pierced and green-haired kids go to college and get degrees in Mayan Menstruation Ritual Dance.
That’s Moisturizing, Metro-Sexual, Mayan Menstruation Uncle Al.
Grew up in NE Ohio. It’s all about the shoes.
walk like an egyptian/electrician
https://youtube.com/shorts/4wjqri8EQ-s?si=-szxdbxRrbz6HHq1
Do not see many tall Eskimos or Alaskan Natives. Down low center of gravity.
Actually, it’s all about the inner ear. I was blessed with almost perfect balance most my life, until they nuked my head.
BUT, I’m getting it back.
Uncle Al – Nice, when my kids were younger they’d beg me to buff out a spot on the wood floor with Pledge. I’d let them slide on it when my wife wasn’t around, but once she came home there would be a big BANG and she’d be on her ass in the middle of the slippery spot, lol.
Even in Florida and other southern climes, smooth concrete that’s wet + Walmart flip flops = danger!
Just put away the phone and watch where you’re going.
back when we wasn’t trans it was called ice hockey
GA Native, I quit wearing flip-flops in public—at least while not on vacation— for that very reason. Well that and I hate that sweaty, dirty feel on a 90 degree Georgia day. At least you can wash them off in the shower by the pool on vacation.
And then the Killer Whale showed up.
Claudia, traction cleats a very good idea. And if possible, walk along something that can be used for support.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfQ_fyaRIA4jJeL1t5bz9VklPZL58uaz9pymv_Vj2tUDNmj_jNMWezmPFw5vKfhTC7qcE90KlxNBMfMY-O3jrS43aA25LjV6UQMG38nelcwJUFDlacVmpiBM-T_kNuioHrSpiUOOaFNEJrzOioSacpJztfLQ76vLz12EuXcnFGAShJf-Hvv-CA9A3QtcH/s639/6.gif