Gait

[Jotro]

When I get up I have a terrible gait problem but can walk almost perfectly within 2 hours. Any thoughts?

[easterncedar]

Maybe it's a question of limbering up after being in bed so long?  I know I am at my most uncoordinated first thing in the morning - and that's just with ordinary stiffness from arthritis.  My guy gets better with a little exercise early in the day, too.

[Jotro in reply to easterncedar]

Thanks.

[abirke]

Stretching and getting those muscles to work...before you get out of bed....But also , if you can walk normally within a couple hours, try to be conscious of the normal, what Quite literally, what steps do you take to walk normally. and try to think your way to that success. B walks much better when he consciously  puts toe in front of  heal.  He thinks it through and then does it.  Maybe envision what it takes to walk normally and then do it! goodluck

AVB

[Jotro in reply to abirke]

Good advise. Thanks.

[abirke in reply to abirke]

sorry that shouldve said heal in front of toe...infact I have a little jingle

when using the walker. B has a penchant to push the "vehicle" wait out in front of him so I say, "Hands to hip and you won't slip; heal to toe or you won't go!" pretty elementary but thats my age group I taught...so I guess I can't help it!!!!hahha

AVB

[Jotro in reply to abirke]

That is funny. Poetry!

[Heady]

Talk to your physio.  Get some exercises to do before getting out of bed. The most important thing, don't give into the stiffness. You are proving that you can walk properly, make sure you carry on, for as long as is humanly possible and then some!!!!

Lots of love

Heady

[Jotro in reply to Heady]

Thanks for your thoughts.

[LynnO]

My husband also has most of his balance/walking problems in the morning, and as he moves around during the day he usually gets better. His cognitive problems are also worse in the morning.  I think, and this is just me, that while the PSP brain is resting, it loses connections, and takes awhile to "get started" again.  Not sure that makes much sense, but seems to in our house. If my husband is mentally not active, his balance is way off, and also his cognitive abilities are bad. If I give him something to do, or if there is something that he wants to do, he's slow at first, but gets better. Never normal, but certainly better. I have noticed too, that in the evening when he is tired, his balance and cognitive abilities are off more than in the active parts of his day. Not sure this was helpful, just thought I would share.

LynnO

[Jotro]

That makes sense. Thanks for your insight on my difficulty.