ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER ...; MAN WALKS HIS WAY TO BETTER HEALTH.Byline: Carol Bidwell Daily News Staff Writer Bob Rumin remembers going to bed feeling fine one night 14 years ago and waking the next morning to find himself a statistic: one of 7 million Americans with rheumatoid arthritis rheumatoid arthritis Chronic, progressive autoimmune disease causing connective-tissue inflammation, mostly in synovial joints. It can occur at any age, is more common in women, and has an unpredictable course. . ``I got out of bed and my hands were red and puffy,'' recalls the retired Pasadena educator. ``I had to get my wife to button my shirt and do up my tie. I got in the car and could barely turn on the ignition. It happened that fast.'' His doctor's diagnosis sent Rumin into a panic. He was only 52 and loved to play tennis and basketball and hike with his wife. ``I thought, `Am I going to be a cripple?' '' But today - as a result of surgical joint replacements and daily 60- to 70-minute walks - he's far from disabled. ``I don't think I even realized the importance of exercise until I started a strong walking program,'' said Rumin, now 66 and retired after 35 years of teaching for the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. and 20 years for UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX Extension. ``Walking is my best friend. It helps my joints work better, it clears my mind. When I don't walk - like during the rains - I miss it.'' Shining example Rumin will take a brisk three-mile stroll along with up to 4,000 other seniors Saturday when he acts as an ambassador for the Arthritis Foundation This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. at the Los Angeles Marathon The Los Angeles Marathon is an annual marathon held in Los Angeles, California since 1986. It was inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. The race starts at about 8:15AM and runs through Downtown Los Angeles, Koreatown, the Crenshaw district, and Secure Horizons Senior Walk at the Los Angeles Zoo The Los Angeles Zoo founded in 1966, is a large zoo located in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Zoo, located in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, is home to 1,200 animals from around the world. . The event, in addition to promoting exercise among older people, also marks the foundation's 50th anniversary. Many Los Angeles-area residents suffer from various forms of arthritis - most from osteoarthritis osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease Most common joint disorder, afflicting over 80% of those who reach age 70. It does not involve excessive inflammation and may have no symptoms, especially at first. , the result of joint injuries and the wear and tear of aging, and from rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease autoimmune disease, any of a number of abnormal conditions caused when the body produces antibodies to its own substances. In rheumatoid arthritis, a group of antibody molecules called collectively RF, or rheumatoid factor, is complexed to the individual's own gamma that medical experts say may result from an unidentified virus. There is no cure for any form of the disease, which can cause crippling pain and deformity Deformity See also Lameness. Calmady, Sir Richard born without lower legs. [Br. Lit.: Sir Richard Calmady, Walsh Modern, 84] Carey, Philip embittered young man with club foot seeks fulfillment. [Br. Lit. . ``One out of seven people has arthritis or related diseases,'' said Rumin, who's a volunteer for the Arthritis Foundation, teaching a weekly class on how to cope with the disease. ``Arthritis affects people of all ages, not just older people. There are about 300,000 children with the disease.'' Beating the pain Rumin credits modern medicine with keeping him moving. Since 1986, surgeons have replaced both his knee joints (the left one twice), his right hip and his right wrist. His left ankle was surgically fused, and this summer, he'll have surgery on his left shoulder to repair a torn rotator cuff rotator cuff n. A set of muscles and tendons that secures the arm to the shoulder joint and permits rotation of the arm. Also called musculotendinous cuff. - but not before he joins a tour group on an African safari. ``When I found out I could have knee replacements, I was the most grateful man in the world,'' said Rumin.``Fifty years ago, we would have been in wheelchairs or flat on our butts in bed. People didn't know what to do with us. I probably never would have walked at all.'' Rumin and his wife, Ramelle, used to walk together. Her death in 1986 from cancer - and the pain in his joints - sidelined him. But he hit the sidewalks again after his knee replacements left him virtually pain-free. The streets of Pasadena are his favorite stomping grounds. ``I have different routes I take, depending on how I feel,'' he said. ``I like to see what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music. with construction on some houses, or walk through the Cal Tech campus or through the business area on Sundays. ``I plan to keep on walking the rest of my life because I find it's just so helpful to me.'' Popular movement His regimen gets a thumbs-up from his doctor. And another physician, Dr. Leonard Fromer of Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. , a family practitioner family practitioner n. Abbr. FP See family physician. who works with many arthritic patients, said others with stiff joints would do well to follow Rumin's lead. ``Exercise is definitely recommended for people with arthritis - and for virtually everybody - but the kind of exercise is important,'' he said. ``Impact is not good - anything that would bang the body. And most people do too much too soon. They should start slowly and build up the body. If you do it wrong, you can do more damage to already fragile joints.'' The best exercises for arthritic joints, Fromer said, are bicycling, swimming (preferably in a heated pool), and walking (with a knee or ankle brace Noun 1. ankle brace - a brace worn to strengthen the ankle brace - a support that steadies or strengthens something else; "he wore a brace on his knee" , if your doctor prescribes one). Ex-teacher Rumin can sympathize with arthritis sufferers who consider taking a stroll around the block a monumental undertaking. ``In our class, we start with, `Get up and walk around your chair. Then walk around your house. Then walk a quarter of a block, then a half a block. Take a bite at a time.' '' When he first started fitness walking, Rumin's pace was slow but steady. And he became increasingly irritated at other, faster walkers or joggers who'd follow the same route, but would pass him several times. But then he realized they were all covering the same ground; it just took him longer. ``I think we have to tell ourselves, So what if it takes us five minutes longer? The more time you spend walking,'' he said, ``the less time you spend as a couch person at home.'' First mile made easy Can't run a marathon? How about walking a mile? Or three? There's still time to sign up to participate in ``Walk on the Wild Side,'' the Los Angeles Marathon Secure Horizons Senior Walk at the Los Angeles Zoo on Saturday. The free event, which runs from 7:30 a.m. to noon, is part of the pre-event festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. for the annual Los Angeles Marathon, which follows on Sunday. Celebrity ``zoo keepers'' include singer Tony Martin and dancer Cyd Charisse, and the first 500 seniors to sign up for the event can attend a meet-and-greet with entertainers Kay Starr, Gisele MacKenzie, Dave Barry and Nanette Fabray. Entertainment will be provided, along with what's billed as one of the world's biggest continental breakfasts and instruction on how people with arthritis can begin an exercise program and stay active. Free transportation to the zoo is available from the Mission Hills, Santa Monica and Van Nuys areas. For information on bus transportation and pre-registration, call (800) 379-7811 during business hours BUSINESS HOURS. The time of the day during which business is transacted. In respect to the time of presentment and demand of bills and notes, business hours generally range through the whole day down to the hours of rest in the evening, except when the paper is payable it a bank or by a . CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: Retired teacher Bob Rumin's anti-arthritis regimen hinges on daily walks through his Pasadena neighborhood. He's participating Saturday in the Los Angeles Marathon Secure Horizons Senior Walk at the Los Angeles Zoo. Myung J. Chun/Daily News Box: First mile made easy (See Text) |
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