Study finds brain intervenes in walking only after discoordination exceeds a certain threshold

[WhyRBD]

I found this to be quite interesting and supports my efforts to integrate trail running and beach running in soft sand into my daily exercise.

medicalxpress.com/news/2024...

[park_bear]

I walk on a trail interspersed with walking over or climbing on irregular rock surfaces. This experience has made it clear to me that Parkinson's particularly messes up the walking automation. I am much more able, more like my unimpaired self, when navigating over rock.

[hmm777 in reply to park_bear]

My experience is similar. I just returned from my annual hiking trip in Colorado with my daughter. I was amazed again, as I am every year, how much better I perform on irregular trails, especially those with significant elevation changes, than I do on my daily walks on the sidewalk back home.

[goldiewan]

great article. Thanks! I find this to be my experience too, re; uneven ground.

[NextStage]

We used to think that the brain took in all the sensory input and formulated what was happening, and then sent messages to parts of the body to respond. Now scientists are finding that instead the brain predicts what is happening, and then only pays attention to sensory input that conflicts with that prediction. (This makes the brain much more efficient when everything is status quo.) So, the brain is working a lot more when we walk on unpredictable paths. To his credit, John Pepper in his book advocates walking on uneven surfaces.