Hi, Jim. I've appreciated your suggestions. You might add this "Blue
Stripes" technique (text below) to some of your work in nursing homes. And
maybe leave it on your PD web site.
John Argue
Voice and Movement teacher.
On Sun, 19 May 1996, Jim Slattery wrote:
> > From: Bethany L. Johnson
> > My mother seems to have the same problem that you do. She can't seem to
> > get her feet going, but I've found that if we verbally prompt her as to
> > what to do (eg. say "left foot") then it helps to get her feet moving.
>
> It is amazing the things people do to aid this immobility. I have seen
> people use the lines in a pavement as visual prompts - one male carer held
> a hair broom in front of his wife's feet, for her to step over - a male
snip
> Though I can't help feeling that a little research into the phenomenon
> might help a whole lot of people, such as accident victims, multiple
> sclerosis sufferers, etc.
>
> Probably no money and little glory in it.
>
> Jim
>
snip
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 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. On a carpet it leaves a residue
of "stickum" if you leave it on for 6 months. Cleaning the stickum up
requires "Goof Off" or "Spot Shot" kinds of cleaners.
People who try it should report their results to me.
John Argue - 613 Cornell Ave, Albany, CA 94706 - (510)524-5105 ---
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
