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hi ALL Our support group has a physiotherapist give an annual talk-- this is a summary of content. Carrying the arms bent at elbow and close to the body is caused by one set of muscles shortening and tensing (on the front of the arm) while the opposing muscles are stretched and weakened.. This happens whenever my medication level runs down. If stretching exercise is not done when the arm is mobile the muscle and tendons etc become permanently shortened and this is called a 'contracture'. Exactly the same thing happens to leg mucsles and other sets all over the body. The result is the "folded over" posture we PWP often have. Exercise for PWP should stretch the one and strengthen the other. Upright posture and arm swing need constant practice and thought. To put it politely Parkinsons is a real pain in the butt. Anne Rutherford <[log in to unmask]> Newfoundland