Arm swing

[MGP201]

How do I reeducate my arm to swing again?

[M_rosew]

Stand in front of a long mirror and 'march' on the spot (knees and arms up and down like a toy soldier). Progress to toy soldiering around the room, and then to plain marching. Music or metronome will make it easier.

[MGP201 in reply to M_rosew]

is it effective?

[M_rosew in reply to MGP201]

I have found it so - arm now swings with walking, although I may have to 'think-start' it. I think it also helps with hip movement too.

Baggage is a problem. I can manage a cross body bag or backpack, but not handbag/shoulder bag.

[DianeBeverley in reply to M_rosew]

good god

[Bailey_Texas]

I find that only meds bring it back. Arm swing was the first sign for me. My right arm would (and i did not realize it until someone told me) lay across my chest with my palm on my left shoulder.

[Alwarid in reply to Bailey_Texas]

Same here.except it was and still my left arm

[laglag]

My experience is both of the above. The meds help you to get moving and then when you are moving, swing your arms in an exaggerated way and your body and mind will eventually work together and it will eventually become more natural. Kind of like doing sit ups to help your core, do arm swings to help your arms swing.

[stevie3]

Yes, loss of arm swing was the first sign for me, about six years ago a colleague pointed it out. Somedays it's just rubbish - today it isn't swinging. But the exercises mentioned above really help. I march up and down on the spot and swing my arms vigorously and it usually works really well.

[Serenity_finaly-1]

My first symptom was being called an old man in my mid 20s.

[Astra7]

My arm was also my first identifiable symptom. My family thought I was copying a joke from Seinfeld!

I find walking heel to toe per mr pepper helps get a bit of movement going.

[Oceanwind in reply to Astra7]

I always think of that character on Seinfeld when I catch my reflection in a window downtown with my non-swinging arm! Elaine's voice judging me, "What's with her?..."

So.. I try to MAKE myself swing it so that I don't look strange, and also so that I keep my muscles working there - but it makes me feel unauthentic.

It's the same way with my face - I have to make myself smile, which feels so fake, but if I don't try to smile, I look like a miserable old lady, and I'm really not...at least not yet! I just try to make myself look normal so I can blend in with the crowd.

[Serenity_finaly-1 in reply to Oceanwind]

I don't suppose you can find a clip of the scene.

[Astra7 in reply to Serenity_finaly-1]

m.youtube.com/watch?v=oyVaZ...(Not working as expected?)

[Serenity_finaly-1 in reply to Astra7]

THANK YOU

[Oceanwind in reply to Serenity_finaly-1]

I can try sending a link to the entire episode...sorry I don’t have editing skills!

youtube.com/watch?v=oyVaZ8fA9Hg

Hope that works!

[Oceanwind in reply to Oceanwind]

Oops - someone beat me to it!

[grower]

Meds unfortunately haven't helped me, but the LSVT BIG program has helped me alot in the way that M_rosew has obviously found. Re-educating the neural pathways with exaggerated movement, but it does take constant thought, it's not natural like it used to be.

[OTEB in reply to grower]

As an OT and daughter of someone with PD I love LSVT BIG and what difference it can make!

[tbirchf in reply to grower]

What is LSVT BIG?

[grower in reply to tbirchf]

lee Silverman Voice Training... she started a program to get people to talk loudly with exaggeration to retrain their voices to speak more normally. With success this lead to a physical program based on the same idea. This video turned me onto it youtube.com/watch?v=cV8FjbC...(Not working as expected?)

[Jeansm]

I have been so busy correcting my dragging left foot (chanting "heel,toe, ten to two") that I haven't checked on my arm recently. However, in general, my reduced (right) arm swing is a sign of meds wearing off.

[OTEB in reply to Jeansm]

Give LSVT BIG a try!!

[Jeansm in reply to OTEB]

Thank you. Checked website and no clinicians in my area, but other websites indicate videos might be available. Will see what I can find to incorporate into my own exercise programme. Currently use personal trainer twice a week on top of Pilates and NIA. Trainer has worked wonders with my gait and balance.

[OTEB in reply to Jeansm]

That's a shame. Are you in the U.K?

[Jeansm in reply to OTEB]

Yes, I'm in the uk

[OTEB in reply to Jeansm]

It's a shame there are more clinicians in the U.K. I think unfortunately it's too timely and costly for NHS services due to the intensity. And there just aren't enough private practioners around.

I am certified but if I didn't come up in your search on the website I'm obviously too far away.

You can buy the video on amazon. Not as good as doing the course but it'll give you a good idea of the principles.

Good luck!

[JohnPepper]

You learn how to consciously control your walking actions, including the swing of the arms. For more information, look at my profile.

[MGP201 in reply to JohnPepper]

Is it not possible to recover automatic unconcious arm swing?

[JohnPepper in reply to MGP201]

I don't think it is possible to completely get back to walking without having to think about what we are doing. Is that a serious problem?

[MGP201 in reply to JohnPepper]

It is a problem for me

[JohnPepper in reply to MGP201]

I would like you to stand up, with your feet shoulder width apart, and see how high you can swing your arms, as if you were walking.

Having done that and noticing that you are capable of swinging your arms as high as you like, then why are you able to do so and why are you not able to do it when you are walking?

The answer is that Pd affects any movements we do without us having to concentrate on that specific movement.

You don't consciously think about swinging your arms, when you are walking, do you? You don't consciously think about moving your legs either.

Watch these videos and come back to me and tell me what you think.

My Story

youtube.com/watch?v=_QVIdPo...(Not working as expected?)

San Francisco Talk:

youtube.com/watch?v=cD6amOG...(Not working as expected?)

Interview with Dr Norman Doidge

youtube.com/watch?feature=p...

Clovelly Surf Club Talk

youtu.be/Xe2ItR2Vyxs(Not working as expected?)

Barry Geffen Video

youtu.be/PQ1CT9Om6kE(Not working as expected?)

[NRyan]

JPepper's walking works. I consciously walk everywhere. I no longer drag a foot or stumble, my arms and legs move in reciprocal fashion. I consciously walk (think of each moment) every day and have moved to Nordic walking. I am an Occupational therapist so I can attest to the sound advice, which is what I gave when working PwP in the past....conscious movement. You must practice and it becomes second nature, using music, verbal cues, metronome, anything with a rhythm. Go for it....I did and am so glad. I nordic walked with my sister this week and she had such difficulty with reciprocal movements....not me! So natural and easy now.

[javen]

Nordic Walking and Smoveys exercises are great for improving arm swing and gait (Smoveys were invented by a man with Parkinson's, but they are expensive.) I am a Fitness and Nordic Walking instructor specialising in treatment of long-term neurological conditions, and found that people with Parkinson's can achieve amazing results.

[Natlp2]

These guys are good as well: youtube.com/watch?v=GpWFZde...(Not working as expected?)

[Smokeypurple]

I do Nordic Walking and PDWarrior and the combination works really well. And I know things have changed as 2 winters ago the hand on my affected sider was always cold and last year it wasn't as it moves more.

[Rhollywood]

Hi get a sports massage and you should see a significant improvement if they massage upper back and neck of shoulder...it’s all your rotator cuff muscles that are contracted and stop the arm freely swinging so even one sports massage will help a lot. Good luck.