Several people have inquired about more information on my experience with functional neurology. I want to be clear that I am neither endorsing or promoting functional neurology, I am only explaining my experience.
I might note here, that in the United States, one of the premier top 25 college football teams, the Oregon Ducks, noted for their advanced training facilities, implemented the eye exercise training on the football team three years ago. After the second year the team played for the national championship. While we can’t give full credit to the eye exercise program for their successful season, it has brought the eye exercise training into more of the mainstream practices.
Some people ask is it more cognitive improvement or physical? At this point, for me, I’ve seen more improvements in my cognitive abilities then my physical abilities. Although I believe because my improved cognitive skills my energy level is much higher. Following is a list of improvements that I found after a week of intensive exercise and at the doctor’s clinic. I have left the improvements that I still possess over one year later an indented the ones that are not so improved. I’m still doing daily eye exercises some of which I will explain below.
A.better speaking
B. swallow better
C. more right-hand flexibility
D.better posture
E.twinkling eyes
F.Less brain fog
G. walking better
H.humor returning
Here are some of the exercises I am doing. Since I am right side affected, these exercises work on the left brain.
Follow my upward pointing thumb moving from left to right to any of the dots I have placed on the wall. Once my eyes are focused on the dot, move my head left and right for ten times. Then, follow my outstretched thumb moving from below up to any dot. Eyes focused on the dot, move my head up and down 10 times. Repeat for three sets of this exercise.
Here is an example of the dots I put at eye level on the wall. The example would not copy. The 5 dot look like 5 dots on a one of two dice.
The mirror exercise is done by using a full length mirror where I sit facing my wife, she is holding the mirror between our legs with the mirror facing my left (good) side. She will do various mirrored exercises with both hands and fingers. My eye sees my left hand function correctly and is tricked into thinking it’s my right hand making those smooth movements. This helps train my brain into believing that my right hand is as functional as my left hand.
Another exercise I do which is kind of fun, is an app on my iPad with downward scrolling bars, where I keep my eyes focused in one spot and count the bars is a flow by. That helps me maintain my focus which definitely helps my cognitive skills. I believe the trick to this exercise is that the iPad is held higher than my eyes and to the right which Chelsea work on the left brain.
Here’s an exercise to get me to create energy, which works for me. Again I’m right side affected so we’re trying to strengthen the left brain. If I need more energy, I take my right hand and make a horizontal figure 8 motion, rotating the wrists up and down as I make the figure 8. I can do this for about 30 seconds I gained new energy. It seems so simple that using a short exercise like that, gives one more energy. It seems to proves that the brain is trying to send out lazy signals to my body.
I know this all may seem a little weird to some of you, but it works for me. I still have slowness of movement, my gait is a little disrupted but mentally I’m so much sharper than I was before I started this program.
Thank you all for your interest, and allowing me to share my story. I find this social medium very informative and very encouraging as we can have access with more PWP’s.
Good luck with your quest to find a alternative to conventional meds and treatments.
Please try conventional meds and treatments they are proven to work. Don't suffer with your PD. for years when you could more fully enjoy life. Avoiding conventional treatments will not delay the onset of dyskinesia there have been studies about it.
If you find relieve doing this i wish you well.
Actually I had posted before that I am starting CD/LD and that I started this to delay the start of the meds. Now that I am on them I am finding that this is just one more thing I can exercise. Why limit my exercise just to my muscles? That seems a little shor
To finish, That seems a little short sidedsided.
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I've got no dog in this fight. Haven’t tried DonTodd’s exercises - yet. Have no financial interest in any chiropractic. I’ve read, though, of the link between the optic nerves and brain function and how Parkinson’s messes with the way we PWP process what is in front of, and alongside, us.
There are ways of coping with that PD-disrupted sense of perception. For instance, a line on a floor - lately done with a laser beam - can coax a frozen foot to move forward.
You may also recall the TEDX video someone posted here a few weeks ago. A man with PD needed a walker to get around the main floor of his home but could easily amble - unaided - down a stairway. Solution: trick the eye by laying runner mats, designed to give the illusion of a stairway, throughout the house. youtube.com/watch?v=d-cY_VZ... (3 minutes in)
I read DonTodd's post as simply a suggestion of something we might try — I didn’t see it as suggesting those eye exercises would replace what I now do.
It’s been said that each case of PD is unique. What works for one may not work for all. But it may work for some. Sharing that info is a big reason many of us come here, isn’t it?