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Thanks, Roger! PD makes me feel unbalanced even when I'm standing still--like Amanda's, my center of gravity seems to have a mind of its own. The vertical projection of the base can be a shifty devil. About shoes: I find that stiff soles disconnect me from the surface I'm standing on and wreak havoc with my balance. I prefer thin, soft, flexible soles that give me a good "road feel"... and my favorite footwear is none at all. Kathleen On 20 October 2012 16:19, Roger Seymour <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Actually, the center-of-gravity thing might be worth thinking about. A > basic of physics is this: given a "body" (any object) that is supported by > a base (legs, a stand...) in contact with (but not attached to) the ground, > if the center of gravity of the system (object + base) moves outside the > vertical projection of the base, the base will no longer be able to support > the system and it will topple. This could no doubt be stated more > precisely... An example: If you're on a step ladder and you lean out such > that the center of gravity of you+ladder is outside the rectangle formed by > the feet of the ladder, you+ladder will tip over. Applying this to the > human body: when you stand, your "base" is (roughly) the rectangle that > your shoes will just fit into, front to back and side to side. If you lean > in a given direction, your center of gravity shifts in that direction > (provided you're not doing anything to counterbalance). As soon as your > CoG goes over the edge of that rectangle around your shoes, you will start > to fall. > > Two things I might try: 1- Get a sense of where my CoG is. This can be > done by standing and carefully rocking front to back and feeling the > pressure on the heels and balls of the feet as I rock. Then, find the > point where the pressure is even between fronts and backs of the feet. > This would be the position where the CoG is best centered over the base > (feet). Next, I'd try to think about where I feel the pressure on my feet > when I'm doing routine stuff, and see if there are postures that tend to > put more pressure on the balls of my feet or heels. These would be > situations where a fall might be more likely. 2- Consider the shoes. I > like to wear more comfy shoes, except when I go to the therapist. If I > don't want to get lectured, I put on the "right" shoes: the ones with the > good support, strong heels and stiff soles. Think about it, though: the > proper fit and stiffness of the soles of a good pair of shoes provide a > better base and, in theory at least, should make falling less likely. > > For what it's worth... > > Roger > > -----Original Message----- From: A Phillips > Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 11:26 AM > > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Falling....help please > > Think my center of gravity may be outside my body..... > >> Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 02:29:22 -0500 >> From: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: Falling....help please >> To: [log in to unmask] >> >> Invaluable! Lots of strong research about tai chi and yoga, much centers >> around finding and knowing your center of gravity. Center will change with >> age and especially with pd. learning to fall is also a wonderful >> suggestion. Great! >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Oct 17, 2012, at 4:44 PM, Rick McGirr <[log in to unmask]> >> wrote: >> >> > This is going to sound ridiculous to some of you... >> > >> > I have a background of past activity at a martial arts school, or > >> "dojo", >> > specifically Nihon Goshin Aikido. At the beginning of every class, we > >> would >> > actually practice falling. We had very specific procedures for > >> front-fall, >> > side-fall, back-fall. And we would do it a lot. It was essential to do >> > this, >> > because Aikido includes a lot of throwing moves, like Judo, so we could >> > count on hitting the deck several dozen times per class. >> > >> > I am very fortunate to have had this training, albeit before my > >> diagnosis in >> > 2001. It was a very good way to develop awareness of my body and its >> > balance, vulnerability, strength, and it gave me a tough inner core, >> > tempered in lessons under a quite demanding sensei, or teacher. >> > >> > Now, I would never suggest that PWP all sign on with a martial arts > >> academy. >> > And I would also suggest maximum caution and collaboration with physical >> > therapist, doctor, sensei, personal assistant, mom, dad, cousin Ralph > >> and >> > everybody else you can think of. And further, I only suggest this to > >> those >> > who are ready, physically and emotionally, to enter into this kind of > >> study. >> > And all the disclaimers apply doubly. I don't know what I am talking > >> about >> > in any case. I would not ever represent myself as an authority on > >> anything >> > except playing rock n roll on the piano. And even that can be dangerous! >> > But... >> > >> > But yes, you are hearing me correctly. I am indeed suggesting that, > >> since >> > you do it so often, make a study of falling. I certainly would never > >> have >> > survived the aikido school without the knowledge I gained there. And > >> there >> > have been times when the habits gained at aikido school saved my ass >> > literally. (head, back, knees, elbows, etc.) >> > >> > With respect, >> > Rick >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network >> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]**utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]>] >> On Behalf Of Meg Duggan >> > Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 8:28 AM >> > To: [log in to unmask] >> > Subject: Re: Falling....help please >> > >> > Do u tend to fall upon rising? Adding a bit of salt to your diet can > >> help >> > with sudden drops in blood pressure that can occur. If u are falling > >> because >> > of a dropped foot, there are appliances that help keep the foot in a > >> better >> > position. >> > >> > Sent from my iPhone >> > >> > On Oct 15, 2012, at 1:13 PM, Nigel Harland <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> > >> >> Hi all, >> >> Does anyone have any helpfull advice on preventing falling,? I >> > fall on average 3 times a day, sometimes more. >> >> It is only a matter of time before I will do myself some serious >> >> damage. I >> > use a walker but even this does not always stop me from from falling. >> >> Regards, >> >> Nigel Harland. >> >> >> >> ------------------------------**------------------------------** >> ---------- >> >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >> > mailto:[log in to unmask]**utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]> >> >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn >> > >> > ------------------------------**------------------------------** >> ---------- >> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask]** >> utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]> >> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn >> > >> > ------------------------------**------------------------------** >> ---------- >> > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > mailto:[log in to unmask]** >> utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]> >> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn >> >> ------------------------------**------------------------------** >> ---------- >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]** >> utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]> >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn >> > > ------------------------------**------------------------------**---------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]** > utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ------------------------------**------------------------------**---------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]** > utoronto.ca <[log in to unmask]> > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn