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Ida,

You asked me to clarify the following:
>QUOTE3
>"We drag our feet and trip over things that wouldn't normally trip a 2y old
>toddler. Things like ball point pens etc." end of Quote


Once when being subjected to the push/pull test I asked my neurologst
exactly what he was testing. He replied that he was looking for "The Right
Response".  English being a strange language I asked him what he meant by
"right response" as opposed to "wrong response".   In fact he was speaking
of the reflex by which we maintain our upright position.

If I understand it correctly the "Right Response" is associated with but not
directly part of our balance system.  The balance system and "right reflex"
combine to determine and make us aware of our position in space relative to
the upright position, the "right respose" determines our reaction to the
information.  A person with a normally functioning "Right Response"  knows
that they are leaning in one direction or another. In the event of a sudden
change of position (as in tripping) the "Right Response" triggers a reflex
action designed to keep the body in or return it to the upright position.
The reflex action can take the form of simply swaying back into the upright
position, or taking a quick step of sufficient length to maintain the
upright position, or even if necessary breaking into a run.

It seems that most, but by no means all, PWP lose their "right response"
when "off". Those of us who have lost it tend to spend a lot of time leaning
over without realising it (at least until our muscles start complaining).
We also lack the reflexive response to tripping. Combining this with the
Parkie inclination to shuffle explains why some of us can fall over very
small objects. You would seem to be one of the lucky ones Ida -  you still
have your "right response".



Dennis.