Weighing on my mind

摘要

The conductor moves down the aisle of the train. Two sets of keys jangle as he advances reminding me of Marley's visit to Scrooge on Christmas Eve. In this case, the conductor's antalgic gait is due to his own weight - evidenced by an abdomen that precedes the rest of his body. Imagine the stress on the joints of someone who spends his entire day striving to remain balanced while the moving train sways from side to side. And how much damage those extra pounds inflict. Obesity is the next big thing for orthopaedics -literally. I've thought about this a lot recently as I watch a friend struggle to regain mobility after a fall; one which did not cause a fracture but required bed rest, for what seems like a short time. The event was momentary but the recovery continues, impacting all aspects of her life months after the fall.