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Who knew that a malfunctioning office chair could actually be a helpful addition to my daily <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/what-is-als/">ALS</a>-focused exercises? I certainly didn’t. But now that I’ve grown accustomed to its sneaky ways, I want to keep my chair just the way it is.
I type on a laptop placed on our dining table while sitting on an office chair with wheels, and I keep the chair at its highest setting, which is perfect for me. However, over the past few years, the chair’s pneumatic tube has developed a tendency to lose its pressure. It’s not one of those slow leaks that happen over the course of the day, but at random, irregular times. I’ll feel a downward motion, and suddenly, I’m typing at the height of a toddler. If my chair had a voice, it would be saying, “Hey, lady, the ride’s over!”
So I have to stop, push back from the table, and fix the problem.
[recommended-reading id=88049]
<h3>My special routine</h3>
I swivel to face my nearby <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/rollator-acceptance-independence/">rollator</a>, and then, with one hand on the table and the other on my rollator’s handle, lean way forward and heave-ho myself up to standing. But I’m not finished yet. Next, I bend my knees into a semi-squat position and carefully reach back to tap a handle located under the seat. The seat finally pops up, and I return to a stand.
Of course, I realize that most folks in the same situation would simply buy a new chair. Eventually, I know I’ll have to do that. But, in the meantime, because maintaining my muscle strength is a priority, I appreciate the daily interruption.
<h3>The hidden lesson</h3>
That’s the thing about my ALS: Living with the condition motivates me to look for opportunities in every situation. For example, this one has morphed into a reminder to take a break from <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/sitting-too-much-3-tips/">too much sitting</a>; to stand up, hold an isometric squat, breathe, and notice my surroundings. Plus, I can augment my <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/squats-als-leg-strength-exercise/">daily squats routine</a> and avoid <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/exercises-helped-me-handle-learned-nonuse-cross-my-legs/">disuse atrophy from inactivity</a>. So far, it&#8217;s a win-win for me.
If you find yourself sitting in a faulty chair, don’t despair. Meet the challenge and think of it as a chance to exercise your patience, humor, and ingenuity. For me, it’s all part of learning to live well while <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/living-with-als-2/">living with ALS</a>.
Oops, it’s happening again. Faulty chair break time.
<hr />
Note: <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/">ALS News Today</a> is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/als-diagnosis/">diagnosis</a>, or <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/approved-treatments-for-als/">treatment</a>. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

A faulty office chair reminds me to always look for opportunities

I’m always open to learning new things, especially when they involve simple ways to improve my <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/living-with-als-2/">life with ALS</a>. When I come across something super helpful, I just have to share it with my readers.
My most recent discovery involves a simple plastic straw. In fact, it’s become a permanent addition to my daily exercise routine.
For the past six years, I’ve been challenged by the <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/symptoms-of-als-2/">ALS symptom</a> of <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/speech-problems/">dysarthria</a>, which affects my ability to speak. Dysarthria feels like having a bad case of laryngitis and a lazy tongue that is two steps behind what my mind wants to say. Thus, when I speak, it’s with a gravelly, monotone voice. I’m often asked to repeat myself, which I do, but I default to saying the same words, only louder. It’s frustrating, and speaking this way strains my vocal cords and throat.
But maintaining the ability to communicate is important for me. So in the past few years, I’ve explored and experimented with <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/als-learning-how-to-speak-breathe-with-ease/">various ways to keep and preserve</a> the little voice that I do have.
In addition to practicing <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/columns/als-breathe-well-balloons-bubbles/">diaphragmatic breathing</a> and doing exercises to improve my posture, I learned vocal techniques used by actors and singers as taught in “<a href="https://www.andreacaban.com/als">The Living Speech Series,</a>” by Andrea Caban.
[recommended-reading id=80731]
<h3>What about the straw?</h3>
Over the holidays, I watched a <a href="https://youtu.be/zCa4So3GzEo">YouTube video</a> featuring a person with <a href="https://www.ataxia.org/what-is-ataxia/">ataxia</a>. The other guest was a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who described a series of techniques called <a href="https://www.voicescienceworks.org/sovt-exercises.html">semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises</a>. These exercises are used in many warmup and treatment protocols for professional singing, and by speaking coaches and voice and speech therapists.
Intrigued, I learned that SOVT exercises also use plastic drinking straws. The SLP described how spending a few minutes every day breathing, humming, and singing through a straw can relax the muscles surrounding the vocal cords, as well as in the neck, and reduce fatigue when speaking.
Of course, I went on a deep internet dive to find out more and discovered a wealth of <a href="https://youtu.be/SnyiT8VAtPU">how-to videos</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17549507.2020.1787514?journalCode=iasl20">supporting research</a>.
<h3>A quick how-to</h3>
Here&#8217;s how you do it: Sit tall and place a plastic drinking straw in your mouth. Hold the straw lightly with one hand, and:
<ol>
<li>Breathe slowly and evenly for a few minutes.</li>
<li>Inhale and exhale with a long “Ahhhh” sound.</li>
<li>Try humming or even “singing” a song.</li>
</ol>
Whenever I finish these steps, my throat feels very relaxed.
These simple exercises can be repeated anytime you feel your voice or throat need a rest. Here’s a good, short video on the <a href="https://youtu.be/0xYDvwvmBIM">vocal straw exercise</a> to help you follow along.
Are you ready to sing through a straw? I hope you give it a try. Let’s continue to learn how to live well while living with ALS.
<hr />
Note: <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/">ALS News Today</a> is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/als-diagnosis/">diagnosis</a>, or <a href="https://alsnewstoday.com/approved-treatments-for-als/">treatment</a>. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

Tag: exercises

A faulty office chair reminds me to always look for opportunities

Why Am I Singing Through a Straw, You Might Ask?