What Are Stragies For Freezing Gait?
If I stand up as straight as possible, keep my walker or cane forward and concentrateing on putting my heel down first.I can usually overcome the halting .
Might sound a bit strange but I downloaded an app to my phone called loop drum. I’ve had it for quite awhile and can’t remember if it’s a free app but it has multiple types of drum loops in different styles at fully variable speeds. I find if I play any type of loop like calypso for instance, I set speed at whatever I’m comfortable with and keep the phone in my hand or pocket while I walk, as long as I hear the beat, even very quietly, I walk at a steady pace with no hesitation. I got the idea from the cue 1 that we can’t get here yet. It’s a little different method but the same principle I believe. Follow a beat. Helps me walk a little faster on slow days too. I use it on the treadmill as well
Larger steps; keep your toes pointed up. Use a walker, stand tall.
Here are some strategies from the American PD Association (APDA)
Ten Tips to put the Freeze on Freezing!
Try another movement – raise an arm, touch your head, point to the ceiling; then re-start
Change direction: if you can’t move forward, try stepping sideways and then go forward
Carry a laser pointer in your pocket; when you freeze – shine the laser in front of your foot and step on the light – this cue can help you re-start.
Visualize an object on the ground in front of you and try to step over it.
Wear a metronome on your belt or carry a small one in your pocket – turn it on and the external beat can help you re-start.
Try humming a song and time your re-start with the beat of the music
Count “1-2-3-go” and then step forward
Weight shift side to side to help initiate taking a step
March in place a few times and then step forward
Don’t fight the freeze by trying harder to step forward – shift your attention from moving the legs to moving the arms – then resume walking forward
@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, just Google Parkinson's freezing of gait and you will find many helpful sites. Make sure you visit Pamela Quinn's PD Movement Lab. I think you'll find it very helpful. Here's the link: https://pdmovementlab.com/
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