FALLING OVER ALL THE TIME

[TommyGDS]

Hi folks I was diagnosed with parkinsons about 3 yrs ago my biggest problem is my ballance my legs freeze very often and fall a lot this seems to be getting worse as it is now happening outdoors any suggestions how to improve my ballance will be gratefully appreciated

[ramondo4]

Like you, I was diagnosed 3 years ago but now know I had PD longer than that, my balance and ability to walk is deteriorating, when I mentioned this to my neurologist he said it was one of the most difficult things to cure.

Hope we both get some helpful advice from this wonderful forum.

[GymBag]

Diagnosed 12 yrs ago.

I find that my balance is the worst when I am tired which is pretty much all the time . My Neurologist / Movement Disorder Specialist prescribed a 30 min. nap each day between 1 and 3 pm. It works very well.

I do not leave the house without my walker to push in front as I walk , stops me from falling but more importantly it gives me a place to sit and rest. ( Also causes people to hold open doors and give me some space ). Installed extra handrails in house and hand grab bars at doors because it will get worse. Planning on installing a stair-glide ( power track lift) not that expensive as long as you only need straight track. Cure it ? no sorry. I fell off my stationary bike for petes sake.

[Motherfather]

hello tommy im very sorry to hear that i get sore feet well my right one anyway..but i exercise a lot every day .so im not sure what your doing there im exercising every day 7 days a week..ok im 70 so i dont know what your taking as well.you might not be taking the right meds as well..but as i have told a few friends who are in the same boat as you .go into a place called ali express its in china.they have a little massage machine and you can buy it very cheap it has slippers like flip flops that have electroids in them.i use it every day..it has pads as well ..ill send u a video of it..it only cost 20 or 25 dollars very cheap..ok ill go into u tube now and send it ,,hope this helps in some way..your pd friend john.

[Motherfather]

youtu.be/o8d-vLxOs1k(Not working as expected?)

[Motherfather]

youtu.be/SaTKjLU1LHg(Not working as expected?)

[JohnPepper]

Hi Tommy. It all depends on how much you are prepared to invest in your health. I don't mean money but rather your energy.

If you accept that your brain is no longer capable of controlling your balance and walking, because that is the situation, and you are prepared to believe that your conscious brain is still able to control your balance and walking, then you stand a good chance of overcoming this problem.

Just to prove to you that what I am saying here is perfectly true I want you to get somebody to stand next to you and hold you firmly by your left arm, so that you cannot fall.

Now, I wan you to stand up as straight as you can and place all your weight onto your left leg. If you have all your weight on the left leg then you should be able to lift your right leg off the ground, without falling over. If you can't do that, it is because you are not putting all your weight onto your left leg. Keep trying until you can lift your right leg off the ground without falling.

Now! See how far you are able to raise your right leg up in front of you, hopefully with your right knee straight. If you are able to lift it quite high, as I am sure you are, you will realize that you are consciously lifting your right leg off the ground.

Now! Do the same with your left leg this time. Place all your weight on your right leg and lift the left leg up and see how far you can move it forwards, without falling.

With this other person holding onto you, practice placing your weight onto one leg at a time and swing the other leg freely backwards and forwards, while consciously balancing on the one leg.

The next exercise is, with this other person holding onto your left arm, to place all your weight onto your left leg and move forward as far as you can, while pushing your right leg out in front of you and landing 'consciously' onto the heel of your right foot, with the toes sticking up in the air. Then put all your weight onto that right leg and bring your left leg forward and land on the heel of the left foot with the toes sticking up in the air.

Now, carry on walking as fast as you can, with your friend helping you and 'consciously' thinking about moving one foot at a time and landing on the heel of the foot with the toes sticking up in the air.

Keep practicing that! You will not freeze,, because you are consciously moving your legs. The moment you lose concentration you will freeze!

There is no magic attached to this, it is all common sense.

Let's know what happens!

[steph02 in reply to JohnPepper]

Many thinks John I am Finding this actually works for me, though I do feel I am doing a funny walk it is a small price to pay. The only problem i find is the moment i stop concentrating I will start to festinate then maybe fall , guess its a case of brain training.

[JohnPepper in reply to steph02]

Yes! If you stop concentrating you will start to festinate and possibly fall. That is why you should start this walking with somebody holding onto your left arm, until you have learned how to maintain your concentration. I have walked like this for the past 19 years and it is now second nature. With the best will in the world, it is easy to lose concentration but the moment it happens I feel and hear my feet scraping the ground and I pull myself together.

Don't give up!!!!

[heidi1]

I'm certified in Delay the Disease. If you are on Facebook, check out their page. They just posted a video on what to do if you freeze.

Exercise - hard exercise, getting your heart rate up - is the only way to Delay or reverse symptoms. Get your heart rate up, then practice taking big steps, standing on one leg (holding on of course), stepping over something, etc.

Find a delay the Disease class in your area or a personal trainer who is certified in Parkinson's.

Www.delaythedisease.com

[sharron2]

Exercise that builds up your core muscles (the ones around your torso) are really important in being able to control your body when you loose your balance. There are now physical therapy classes just to help people at risk of falling to recover the ability to right themselves before they actually fall. Maintaining our muscle tone is tough enough as we age, but it is a double whammy when parkinsons is the mix.

See if your doctor will prescribe the big therapy or the fall prevention physical therapy. Walking, tai chi and or yoga also will get you there. My husband will go to physical therapist for big therapy, but is not so willing to exercise on his own.

[tid1]

Hi Tommy -

My balance issues are not as severe as yours but I thought I would tell you what has helped me. While you are brushing your teeth stand with all your weight on one foot at a time. Then switch your feet when you feel you have to. Be sure you are very close or leaning on the bathroom counter so you can use it to to help with your balance.

Also be sure that your doctor has checked you for an ear infection. I get inner ear infections which have no pain but cause dizziness and balance issues.

[tid1 in reply to tid1]

Also I forgot to mention that our doctor recommend Tai Chi to improve balance. I found some Tai Chi training on YouTube and you may also find local classes where you live.

[TommyGDS]

Thanks for all the comments