MOUNT VERNON — The value of exercise in maintaining health is well known and widely publicized. And a Mount Vernon seniors couple reemphasizes exercise as part of things to do to stay healthy. Dave and Joyce Swihart have different health issues that are helped with exercise that fits their particular problems.
Dave Swihart explains that his grandmother, Eura Shaffer, told him many year ago that exercise was important to his health. During his working career, 30 years with Kokosing Construction Co., Swihart says he had no problem with getting enough exercise.
His job was refueling machines, on the construction sites, used by Kokosing on their jobs. Refueling was an arduous job. It involved pulling fuel hoses, heavy with diesel fuel, up, over and around machines to reach the refueling point.
He recalls a dragline was a particular difficult job in climbing. First lay the fuel hose on the track of the dragline, climb up on the track, pick up the hose and then climb up a ladder to the top of the machine where the fuel filler was located. He says he got plenty of exercise, was pretty tired after a day’s work.
Then retirement brought on high blood pressure and borderline diabetes. And his grandmother’s advice came back to him — Exercise. His regime is riding his bicycle and walking. And the Kokosing Gap Trail is a great place.
He rides in good weather, almost every day, 15 to 20 miles, perhaps to Danville and back. Then when the weather is to cold for biking he walks, three or four miles a day.
His bicycle, he says, is nothing special, just a 21-speed Trek. Time on the trail has side advantage. He meets and talks with other people. An the Kokosing Gap Trail is a special one in Ohio. Swihart says he meets many people from around Ohio and also from out of state who find the trail is a great place for riding or hiking. And, of course, visitors always ask where they can eat.
The Swiharts raised five children and Joyce says they kept her busy during their growing up years. She didn’t have an exercise routine. Then in later years came a hip replacement surgery. Recovery from that can take a long time. But one way of speeding healing is working out in a swimming pool. Joyce said walking in the water and swimming was a big, and very necessary help in her recovery.
An those exercises in the YMCA swimming pool continued to help when she had a second hip replacement. In addition to therapy for recovery from the hip surgery the pool exercise help keep down blood pressure and weight.
She goes to the pool in the afternoon when there are fewer people in the normally busy facility. Two to three times a week but she says she should go every day. And grandmother Eura Shaffer’s advice, exercise, is a big part of the Swihart’s health regime.
