Tai Chi and Tai Chi Walking

[CuriousMe12]

After my diagnosis 6 year ago. Ì steered clear of meds altogether for 5 year focusing on natural interventions. Probably the most beneficial for my balance, stiffness and meditative calming was tai chi and qi gong.

This study shows others benefit also

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

However, for the first time in 6 years, last week, my instructor showed me tai chi walking.

Although it might seem simple , if correctly followed it's useful for improving gait and balance as well as focusing the mind on movement and weight shifting.

Im lucky to have a teacher guiding me through it but I found this detailed YouTube video should you wish to try at home.

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

[Racerk]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[Rafafan]

Thanks, I'll check it out for my husband, I thi k it'd help him, he walks well outside but shuffles in the house.

[CuriousMe12 in reply to Rafafan]

Similar to me.I've started shuffling around short spaces. Analysing myself I think I'm leaning my head forward too much over short strides.

Im better if I consciously

Straighten my back

Head up

Slightly longer stride

Toes up as foot lands.

[Rafafan in reply to CuriousMe12]

Yes, my husbands spacial ability means he sees small spaces as smaller than they are and shuffles through open doors etc but I bought a polyusterine block and he kicks it along the floor if he gets stuck and freezes and it gets him walking again. He is on madapar drug but I dont see any on or off periods, he's the same all the time, hes seeing the neurologist next week. Thanks for the description of how you walk better, I wrote that down, I say to him "all the weight on one side, lift up the other leg and stretch forward and that helps him stop shuffling too.

[Beanie57 in reply to Rafafan]

My PWP is the same- no off time, just very anxious all the time regardless of whether 30mins after LD or 3.30 hours after.

[CuriousMe12 in reply to Rafafan]

Ì just just got up and kicked the dogs toy from living room to kitchen. It did reduce shuffling. Ì think it's because the kick lead to a longer stride.

[Rafafan in reply to CuriousMe12]

Yes, that was a good discovery!

[Astrojupiter in reply to Rafafan]

Me too. I am pretty good outside but shuffle inside, I have wondered why that would be. Good to know others are also experiencing this.

[Rafafan in reply to Astrojupiter]

Yes, it's due to spacial ability being changed by the Parkinsons so small crowded spaces seem smaller than they actually are.

[Rafafan]

It doesnt seem to do what it should, we'll have to see what the specialist says next week. My husband sleeps a lot in the day too and can't sleep at night.

[Sun_and_flowers]

Thanks for the info. Can I ask you how you're doing after six years without meds, and what natural interventions you are doing?

[CuriousMe12 in reply to Sun_and_flowers]

Firstly I have no current tremor. My symptoms are mainly slowness and rigidity.My interventions since diagnosis have been

Tai Chi/QiGong

Standing on one leg

Boxfit

Choir

Walking the dog (a 50m sprint when no one looking)

A hot bath eases tense back muscles at day end

A good night's sleep is important to me also.

I have not stopped the progression but I think it's been slower progression than many others.

This year I've started taking a 12.5mg sinemet if doing certain activities like boxfit.

Ì may take two x 12.5mg if doing say a 1.5 hour walk.

If in the house all day I may go without.

Sinemet helps but there are times when I'm happy to not take.

[Sun_and_flowers in reply to CuriousMe12]

Thanks for your reply. I guess if the progression hasn't stopped but you only take a little med and not always, it can't be that bad...

[CuriousMe12 in reply to Sun_and_flowers]

Yes it's not so bad. My worry is if/when I get permanently on meds esp at high dosage then side effects or Dyskinesia starts. I do believe drugs are pushed far too early. Exercise, diet and sleep should be the first port of call.

[Sun_and_flowers in reply to CuriousMe12]

I agree.

[kathy775]

Well done on being able to postpone the meds in this way, and thank you for sharing.

[Esperanto]

It is a misunderstanding that starting medication early affects the onset of side effects such as dyskinésions, but the amount of the medication. Just try to keep them as low as possible along with anti-stress, exercise, diet and sleep.

[kathy775 in reply to Esperanto]

That is true, I now recall having read from a paper from the Mayo Clinic that a higher concentration of medication was what led to dyskinesia.

[gomelgo]

I have a hankering to try this barefoot.

[CuriousMe12 in reply to gomelgo]

😀I'm sure that would be much better.