Bowled Over Again (in a Good Way!): Being Proactive With My Health Goals

My arthritic left ankle is the thing that affects me the most where my bleeding disorder, hemophilia A, is concerned. Slight and not-so-slight bleeding into that joint over nearly 5 decades has taken its toll.

As a result of that and the fact that I'm getting older, I'm taking preventative strategies more seriously to keep my wheels in alignment.

For example, I have had these elastic bands that the physical therapist at the hematology clinic gave me years ago. I initially used them a couple of times, then set them aside and forgot about them. With a big trip coming up that includes a lot more walking than is the norm, I recently dusted them off – thanks to the sound advice of my partner, Gwenn.

Creating a new routine – with the help of "The Golden Girls"

Ankle-strengthening exercises aren't hard to do; the hard part is finding the right time. And making sure those bands are visible until they become routine.

Just the other night I paired the elastic bands with the perfect companion piece, The Golden Girls. Anytime you can make a healthy activity fun, you have to do it.

In fact, ankle stretches sound like such a good time, I might stop writing and go do some now... and so what if I really just want to check in on that lovable little rascal, Sophia Petrillo?

A proactive approach to health in my 50s

Keeping health goals simple and attainable is good for my psyche. I'm a creature of habit, and these days, I'm trying to stack healthy habits on top of one another so that every day is a slight move in a healthier direction.

The inspiration is that I want my 50s (just a year and a half away!) to be as active as my 40s were but with far less physical pain. By strengthening weak spots during downtime, I increase my odds of success.

Steps towards a bigger goal

Something that really helps my ankle is going on short walks with Gwenn. There's a nice little trail close to our house. Sometimes we walk 1 lap, sometimes we'll do 3 or 4. If my ankle feels a bit tender, we'll call it a walk early. I've noticed that when we get lost in conversation, it really helps. The less I think about my ankle, the better it seems to do.

Putting in even a little time each day helps. During the early days of COVID, Gwenn and I started walking more just to get out of the house. After the vaccinations became available, I started thinking about a lot of things I wanted to do that I didn't think I'd ever be able to do again because of my ankle.

With a plan in place, I started training in the hopes of joining a bowling league.

I come from an elite bowling family

You have to know that bowling is a Decker family tradition. My grandfather is in the Roanoke Bowling Hall of Fame. I've seen my father and brother roll a perfect 300 game in sanctioned league play. My grandmother, Nanny, bowled in a league well into her 60s.

I bowled in a league a few times before, with my dad after high school and then with my brother in my early 30s. In bowling league, you bowl 3 games a night, once a week, for months. At the advanced age of my late 40s, "The Champion's Gambit" (as bowling has never been called before) felt far too unfriendly for my weak ankle, which also happens to be my sliding foot. That means it's not just my body weight; it's the 12-pound ball, too.

Working on my game

Until last year, it had been nearly 20 years since I competed in The Definitive Test of Human Endurance and Spirit, the bowling league.

I started by practicing once a week. Early on, I got a little overzealous by rolling 5 games in 1 afternoon, but I was pleasantly surprised by how protective my ankle brace was.

My scores? That's another story. In the league I bowl in — a handicap league — you are really just trying to be better than your own average. That way, players of all skill levels compete on equal footing. Still, I think players with an actual handicap of some sort should get a few extra pins on their tally.

Would my ankle hold up?

Ahead of schedule, I agreed to bowl as a substitute on my brother's Fall League team, filling in for a friend recovering from knee surgery. Over 2 months, I ended up bowling more than I had in the previous 2 decades.

While my bowling average didn't go up, my ankle held up. I bowled even more when I had a starting spot on my brother's Summer Trios League. I know my dad really enjoyed coaching his boys and having some laughs on the lanes again.

Inspired by the people around me

I'll close by sharing something I witnessed at league. One evening, as I was trying to sort out why my bowling ball was not going where I wanted it to, I noticed another bowler a few lanes down. He was in his 60s.

Methodically, he approached the foul line and then came to a complete stop. With one hand he held his cane tight and planted himself as the other hand sent his ball down the lane to terrorize those poor pins.

I don't remember if I ever got my ball on track that night, but I do remember how impressed I was with that guy. As bad as my ankle gets down the road, I know I have as many league nights ahead of me as I want.

I hope this inspires you. In the comments below, tell us about any preventative or proactive strategies you take for your health.