To All of you nice people who took the time and
concern to respond to my "Freezing and Falling"
question, I thank you. Please keep those cards and
letters coming.
   Eddy
--- "Nina P. Brown" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> The following is an article I wrote for our support
> group in
> Houston.
> It may give you a few ideas.
> nina
>
>                    I'M FREEZING…AND IT'S NOT EVEN
> COLD!
>
>                                         Nina Brown
>
>     To the uninitiated, freezing might refer to the
> temperature,
> but if you have Parkinson's, "freezing," a
> temporary,
> involuntary inability to move, is a symptom where
> your feet feel
> as if they are stuck to the ground.  It is sometimes
> referred to
> as "start hesitation" or "gait initiation failure"
> and can occur
> when you begin walking, while walking, when turning,
> in doorways
> and upon entering a confined space.  This condition
> can last
> anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.
> "Freezing" is a
> difficult symptom to treat but your neurologist may
> be able to
> alter your medications (possibly add a dopaminergic
> agonist such
> as Permax, Parlodel, Mirapex or Requip) and/or
> adjust your
> medication scheduling to help control this problem.
>
>     Walking in general is more problematic for a
> person with
> Parkinson's because of the slowness, the diminished
> arm swing
> and the shuffle that comes from not raising your
> feet or toes
> high enough off the floor.  The stooped posture
> affects your
> balance as your center of gravity shifts forward
> with the upper
> part of your body preceding the lower part as you
> walk.  In
> order to catch up with your center of gravity and
> regain
> balance, the tendency to take increasingly faster,
> shorter and
> more frequent steps, known as "festination" occurs.
> "Propulsion" occurs when you try to run forward to
> catch up to
> avoid falling.  "Retropulsion" takes place when you
> feel pulled
> or forced to run backwards to recover your balance.
> As you
> might imagine, falling becomes the biggest concern
> when your
> body continues moving and your feet stop.
>
>     Older bones tend to break easier, so it's
> important to keep
> them strong with weight bearing exercises and the
> proper diet.
> Stretching and range of motion exercises can also
> help combat
> muscular rigidity and keep your joints from becoming
> immobile.
>
>     Falls are not only dangerous to your physical
> health but
> your mental health as well.  Fearful of falling
> again, many
> people stay close to home, abandoning exercise
> routines and
> social pursuits, but withdrawal from activities is
> the worst way
> to prevent another fall.  (And anxiety also
> increases the
> tendency to freeze.)  A fall to the floor doesn't
> need to be a
> fall into isolation or depression.  If you've been
> hurt from a
> fall, it's important to get out even if you need to
> use a cane
> or a walker.  Just pay careful attention to the
> threat of
> "freezing" or being off balance and don't make any
> reckless
> movements.
>
>     You need to think about every step you take.
> Walking is no
> longer an automatic function.  Actions that were
> once routine
> become a challenge because your muscles aren't
> getting
> instructions from your brain to move and therefore
> don't respond
> to your need to move.  It can be very frustrating
> when familiar
> tasks must be constantly relearned and given such
> disproportionate amounts of concentration; but
> attitude and
> exercise are vital to your well-being, so approach
> this
> challenge with spirit and determination and fight to
> keep as
> much mobility as you possibly can.  Don't become
> discouraged.
> Some days it's just easier to move than other days.
> Resolve to
> maintain a "can do" regarding attitude and a "will
> do" regarding
> exercise.  If you do fall down, at least it proves
> you were on
> your feet and moving.
>
>                       * * * *
>
>                  EXERCISES
>
>     Abracadabra…or a few tricks for better balance
> and some
> techniques to overcome freezing when your head won't
> tell your
> feet to take that first step.
>
>      For better balance:  practice the ancient
> martial art of
> Tai Chi (pronounced tie-chee).  Tai chi consists of
> more than
> 100 flowing, dance-like movements of "postures" or
> "forms" that
> resemble ballet in slow motion, performed while you
> concentrate
> single-mindedly on your movements and your
> breathing.  The
> concentration required has been likened to
> "meditation with
> motion."  Taken together, the forms are designed to
> work all of
> your limbs and muscles.  Since it's a no-impact form
> of
> exercise, it's much better for bones and joints that
> can't
> withstand the jarring from high-impact activities.
> The
> continuous, smooth, gentle movements have been said
> to
> strengthen the motor skills impacted by PD.  It is
> also
> particularly helpful in decreasing tremor because
> Tai Chi
> reduces stress and the muscles relax.
>
>     Dr. Timothy C. Hain, a neurologist and associate
> professor
> at Northwestern University Medical School, conducted
> a study
> examining the potential benefits of tai chi on some
> patients
> with Parkinson's.  His results were overwhelmingly
> positive.
> Hain said, "We think it is possible that tai chi can
> not only
> restore balance but eventually make it better than
> normal." In
> addition to preventing falls, other benefits
> included increased
> strength (especially in the thighs, buttocks and
> calves) and
> flexibility (working a full range of motion without
> straining
> the joints or connective tissues) as well as better
> posture.
>
> More suggestions for better balance:
>
> Ø Stand with your hands on your hips, feet spread
> apart:
> Ø Practice marching in place
> Ø Practice raising your leg straight out behind you.
> Ø Practice raising your leg out to the side.
> Ø Practice drawing a circle with your leg.
> Ø Stand with your hands at your side, feet spread
> apart:
> Ø Lean forward and backwards.
> Ø Lean to both sides.
> Ø Lean in a circular motion and reverse the motion.
>
> To help alleviate freezing:
>
> Ø Start by maintaining an upright, tall stance,
> moving your
> body's center of gravity backward so it runs
> straight up and
> down through the spine, legs and ankles.
> Ø Use your imagination.  Dr. Dwight C. McGoon, a
> Mayo Clinic
> surgeon, pretends he has a rocking chair leg
> attached to each of
> his legs, and that a proper step requires that the
> back end of
> the rocker touch the floor on the forward step and
> the front end
> of the rocker touch the floor before the step is
> completed.
> Ø Exaggerate your step.  Imagine a point on the
> floor about two
> feet ahead.  Make that first step as long a stride
> as possible
> because subsequent steps tend to shorten.
> Ø Rock from side to side to initiate a marching in
> place step.
> Ø March like a soldier with a stiff-legged,
> long-striding
> military gait.
> Ø Swing your arms up above your head, then bring
> them down
> sharply to your side 2 or 3 times.
> Ø Walk sideways
> Ø Take a quick step backwards.
> Ø Watch other people walk.
> Ø If you hesitate walking through doors, focus on an
> object past
> the doorframe.
> Ø Step over an imaginary object on the ground, or
> use a cane or
> another person's foot, tile or carpet patterns. Make
> a path at
> night with white socks on carpet or white tape on a
> hard floor.
> Ø Alternate the distribution of your body weight.
> Ø Have someone rhythmically pull or push or raise
> your knee.
> Ø Stamp your feet
> Ø A sudden sound such as a clap may break a freeze.
> Ø Walk to music to increase speed of motion and
> improve rhythm.
> Ø Make wider turns to decrease the chance of getting
> your feet
> entangled and falling.
> Ø It helps to count each step.  You're less likely
> to freeze if
> you know how many steps it takes to get from the
> bedroom to the
> bathroom.
> Ø Avoid clutter.  Keep floor areas free of shoes and
> other
> objects to reduce the risk of a fall.
> Ø If you need a walker for balance, using one with
> wheels (with
> automatic locking mechanisms) will allow for a more
> normal
> walking pattern than standard ones.  [Hint: if
> tremors make the
> walker unsteady, try weighting the lower bars by
> tying on socks
> filled with pennies.]
>
>
>
> Eddy Arden wrote:
>
> > To the group...
> > During the past few weeks my wife has experienced
> > unusually severe and prolonged bouts   of "
> Freezing",
> > which in tern is causing numerous, and needless to
> > say, painful cases of falling.
> > If anyone out there has had any sucess in
> overcoming
> > this problem, or diminishing it in any way, we
> would
> > certainly appreciate your advice. Thank you.
> >   Edward Arden
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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