"Therapeutic Stalking" and other helpful things.

[FMundo]

From someone else's post . . .

"THERAPEUTIC STALKING. Mimic the gait of a person a little way in front of you. We are set up to mimic others. In conversation we often find ourselves mimicking the hand movements of the person we're talking to. Try stalking! You'll find, assuming you chose someone who is walking well and not too fast for you, that your body becomes more fluid."

My Comments . . . . This is a terrific technique for some PwP who have gait related problems (that's me). I have done this... without having a "name" for it. My primary symptom is dragging my left heel and slowed walking. On a recent trip to Italy we did a LOT of walking. I found if I positioned myself 5-10 feet behind another person in our party, and focused on walking "lock step" (mimicking their walking) that my heel dragging ceased and it actually became much easier to walk). I started doing this a lot and it allowed me to walk fast and more naturally.

Mimicking repetitive behavior (of appendages) may well be a thing to add to our "How to Fly" book as we manage physical things that people without Parkinsons do "on autopilot." Physical and Occupational Therapists - take note.

One other thing I have thought to try (interested to know if others have tried this) is to get an ear microphone connected by Blue Tooth to a metronome program for my Smartphone so I can get a pacing signal to use to keep my walking pace up to snuff as my Parkinsons' symptoms progress and slow me down.

A final thing that is extremely helpful in eliminating heel dragging is using a "hiking pole". I use it in the hand opposite from the leg where I drag my heel. For me this totally eliminates the heel dragging even though I put no weight on the pole. This has worked for years. When I went to India I used it for three weeks non stop, it worked at all times.

[Beckey]

That is so interesting about the hiking pole!

[soup]

We use Nordic walking poles because we found that arm swing on the affected can be aided by the leg swing on the less affected side. You have to swing opposite arm and leg for that to help.

Proper Nordic polee also have a glove like grip for anybody with reduced grip on trek poles.

[NanCyclist]

The name for this is entrainment. Check out dancer Pamela Quinn's blog for a great article and video to go with it. pamelaquinn.net/pd-movement...

[Bundoran]

Some good ideas here. I often imitate or at least consciously notice the arm swing of others and this certainly motivates me. There is an enormous variety of swings out there to choose from and if you see one you fancy you can visualize it as you walk along. The metronome is great for pace and arm swing and also for FW, if that is your thing. I don't bother with earplugs though.