Hello, everybody.
BLUE STRIPES - My name is John Argue, and I have been teaching voice and
movement for people with PD for some 12 years. Recently one of my
students, Charlie Friel, came up with the "Blue Stripes technique." We
make no medical claims and disclaim responsibility for other people's
experiments.
We placed one foot stripes of blue masking tape 18" apart across a pathway
throughout the house. We chose the pathways that are most used (the ones
that show all the wear when you finally decide to replace your carpets!)
When turning corners we measured from the center of one stripe to the
center of the next. This makes the house look like a Parchesi board!
(The distance could be 12" or 14" if the person's steps are usually short;
just so long as the distance is kept constant: this seems to create a
"visual rhythm".) This probably works by transferring the same perceptual
cues that work on a flight of stairs onto a level floor.
THIS ENABLED PD PEOPLE WITH FREEZING AND FESTINATION ("SHORT STEPS")
PROBLEMS TO GET MOVING AND KEEP MOVING!
Those who have difficulty walking across open spaces but who do well going
up and down stairs will probably benefit most. People in OFF or nearly
OFF condition were able to move forward sometimes without being "waltzed."
I have done this in my own home/studio and proved it's effectiveness with
all my PD students. I went to one student's apartment in Walnut Creek and
taped her pathways in about 45 minutes. She had been moving about the
apartment by "falling" from one piece of furniture to another. After the
stripes were in place, she could walk easily into every room in the house.
(Truly amazing and immediate response!)
The effect does not "wear off" as the person becomes accustomed to it;
after four months the pattern still enables folks to get moving.
Use ACE Hardware Professional Grade BLUE "Clean Release (tm) Masking Tape"
Stock # ACE 19789. The cheap yellow stuff will not stay stuck. The
masking tape will last in most places for a several months, unless traffic
is very heavy. My vacuum cleaner runs right over it. If it needs to be
removed for a very important social function, it comes up without leaving
traces. The whole pattern can be replaced in short order when the social
function is complete.
People who try it should report their results to me, and post to the PD
list, and we'll compare results.
John Argue - Drama Therapist
613 Cornell Ave, Albany, CA 94706 - (510)524-5105
[log in to unmask]
