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In message <[log in to unmask]> writes: > I was wondering if anyone could answer some question I have about a sentence > I read in a posting saying, > "There is a tendency to hold the arm on the affected side close to the body > with the elbow bent so that the hand hangs at about waist level." > > What does this have to do with Parkinson's and why do PWP do it? Why do > people bend their elbow? Is it more comfortable that way? Is it > subconscious? Conscious? Does it keep them more balanced? Does it have > something to do with the arm muscles? Do they realize that they are doing > it? Can they teach themselves not to do it if they want to? I THINK it has to do with the strength of agonist and antagonist muscles - in a fairly non-technical explanation, let's suppose you want to lift a coin by about half a metre: your brain says to your lifting muscles - LIFT! If that's all it did, you would probably catapult the coin through the ceiling!!! so, you brain ALSO says to opposing muscles - PREVENT THE LIFT GOING TOO FAR OR TOO FAST! If it doesn't coordinate those opposing muscles correctly, you get an oscillation building up. Normally people's resting arms are under unconscious control in much the same way. However, since the PWP brain isn't in full control of the muscles, it stops controlling and the stronger muscles (biceps) tighten more than the others opposing - hence your bent arm. Well, that's my theory, anyway! :-) -- Jeremy Browne, Hampshire, UK [log in to unmask] Shaking Hands BBS, Fidonet 2:252/160 (+44 1252 626233, also FAX)