I have been reporting for 2-3 years that I am doing the 2 inch shuffle with forward/backward balance preventing ‘me from walking normally at all when the Sinemet isn’t active.
A few weeks ago I bought some cheap sandals on Temu for five bucks. They have a slightly hard insert that looks a bit like egg-crate material which Is supposed to massage the soles of your feet as you walk. When I started wearing them, I Noticed a really peculiar phenomenon
With those shoes on, - all the incapacitating PD balance problems disappear completely. Walking becomes perfectly normal and perfectly fast again! I have no conceivable idea what is causing this, - the massage effect, the spongy effect of walking on memory foam, the fact that I Am quite a bit higher off the ground now with these sandals on, is i the massage effect some variation of the Parkinson's electronic glove?
Would anyone else with the one inch shuffle care to try this 'and report back?
Written by
HugoRipanykhazov
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I've experienced something similar. Only it was with VASQUE tennis shoes. They look a little like HOKA brand tennis shoes, but seem to be lighter. However, it seemed as though everything about my gaite changed for the better when I was testing them at a local sporting goods store (SCHEELS here in the Midwest). The change was so dramatic, I bought two different pairs and styles -- one for around the house and one for outdoors. I also now have VASQUE workboots, but the improvements are not as noticeable with them -- in fact not at all if I am having a bad symptoms day.
But if I go home and jump from my workboots to my VASQUE tennis shoes, it's like a night and day difference. Yet, if I go shoeless, it's worse. Put the tennis shoes on, and my gaite oddly improves.
Side note to this discussion: Sometimes when I put my ARIAT cowboy/workboots on, my gaite even feels better then. So it's something in the shoes affecting the brain.
I will check out the TEMU offering, but people be aware - TEMU is a Chinese data harvesting program more than they are a retail sales outlet. Far worse than GOOGLE or MICRSOFT. Proceed with extreme caution. Just sayin'.......
FYI - no, I am not a VASQUE or ARIAT investor nor do I have any ties to the companies. Heck, their shoes are a tad spendy in my opinion. I'd have prefered something cheaper - but these VASQUE's had a profound affect right there as I was trying them on.
Yes I knew the risks when I signed up but somehow I couldn't see that much benefit to the Chinese government in harvesting the data concerning what credit card I use and whether I do or don't like a cheap electric nail file on which I spent four bucks.
How do the Vasque shoes differ from their competitors?
The difference is like magic. I showed them to my PD specialist and she thought so too.
I think they automatically and continuously reset balance in much the same way as lifting one leg to an Angle of 45 degrees, holding it for a moment, then dropping it to the floor and walking off does
Well noted Hugo on understanding TEMU. Just watch your credit cards. I put no faith in their HTTP security system.
As for VASQUEZ shoes, they are made from a rather interesting “space age-ish” material. Feels like a rigid nylon mesh if you will. Very, very light, highly breathable, and the back end of the shoe has a rather protruding heel about it. The bottom sole of the shoe flares out more than a standard walking or exercise shoe. Also, there is additional rigid foam strip support around and just under the ankles. Overall, excellent for balance, support, and very similar to the HOKA design. Although I did not try on the HOKA’s.
Here’s a link. The shoe is called “Re-Connect Now”:
My VASQUE workboots are more like lighter than normal hiking boots, although do not offer the same symptom relief. Their design is rather traditional by way of boots.
I did look at the TEMU sandals. Indeed, very wild looking and I may look into them outside of TEMU.
So this is interesting, that two of us have had a similar positive experience by changing up footwear. I’d assume others have had the same experience. Maybe it has to do with lighter materials, better design, better support?????
It would be interesting to see if these TEMU sandals offer any symptom relief for someone with freezing issues.
Then it does look to me the same as the one on Amazon for only 300-400% of the price
It says FA SH ION on the side and is available in a number of colours.
Have you had any of the worrying experiences on Temu that all the hand-wringing has been about? I have found them to be cheap quality but exceptionally good value.
I'd be wary when anyone with that name ( it can be read as, You go, rip any c*** of), sounds quite alarming especially any posts on here that includes a purchase!
I'd be interested in hearing what a Parkinson's Movement Disorder Neurologist would recommend in foot wear. More likely out of their realm. I had asked a Podiatrist once and he just shrugged.
Good topic though, worth investigating.
As for Temu, read one of the reasons they can offer low low prices is they aren't paying the import/export taxes. Here's a quote from "Time" = Temu’s sister company, Pinduoduo, has long been accused of hosting sales of counterfeits, illegal goods, or products that do not match their descriptions. (Pinduoduo wrote in its SEC filings that it immediately removes unauthorized products or misleading information on its platform, and freezes the accounts of sellers on the site who violate its policies.)
Temu doesn't seem to charge sales tax when they ship from China. But as they are growing, they are shipping more from US-based warehouses and they DO charge sales tax on those purchases.
I think that the way they charge such low prices iso because for any item you see, there are a half dozen factories dotted around China producing it, Temu seems to buy from the cheapest one, which SHOULD usually be the lowest quality.
It is no longer the case that the lowest quality is also the ugliest! I have bought sneakers from Temu that are perfectly attractive and comfortable and dirt-cheap but what arrives is definitely not a high quality product.
Actually I found some all cotton shirts with stylish zippered pockets that look quite nice. I suppose I may find out one day how long they last looking nice before turning into Old Navy throw aways!
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"There are indications to suggest that textured insoles have positive effects on gait parameters, balance, and plantar sensation in Parkinson’s disease patients." ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Is the textured part of the sandals removable, so it could be used in a different pair of shoes? They do make "massaging" insoles, wonder if they'd have the same effect?
Hi Hugo. Thank you for sharing this. I'm sad that they don't have my husbands size. I will keep checking to see if that changes. Good Luck! I hope they keep working for you!
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Walking
PD without drugs
NO SIGNIFICANT RIGIDITY
Been told I have symptoms of Parkinsonism
Symptoms Changing
