Physical Therapy For Freezing And Gait
Physical Therapy For Freezing And Gait
I was just wondering if anyone has physical therapy or any type of therapy to teach them to manage freezing episodes. I live in Northern NJ and my doc said she does not know of anyone who deals specifically with Parkinsons. I need someone to teach me how to manage episodes. I currently have to call someone for help and this keeps my home bound. Are there these types of people who understand Parkinsons? My balance and freezing keep me from being independent. Any suggestions.… read more
My Dad tries walking to a rhythm or to a beat. It bypasses some circuitry in his brain and gets him out of the freeze. Doorways and turns are especially tricky for him. His physical therapist taught him to say/think "Inside the box" (his walker), "Stand up straight," and "Focal point." This helps him to "reset" and try again when he gets stuck. He has been improving with this strategy. We also say "Prancing Pony" to make him laugh and remind him to take big steps. Hope this helps.
Try music. Put some of his favourite tracks on MP3 and when he freezes tell him to put on the head phones and play the music. I have heard of cases where the person may even start to dance.
Try actually counting out loud too ("one, two, three, four" on beat), that sometimes helps my Dad get unstuck. :)
