Have just been explaining to someone how,after 10/12 years with PD I am still able to totter about in spikes,cut huge hedges etc etc [on a good day] and it made me think...
I know these things aren`t spectacular..I am not posting for that.And I know maybe 10/12 years is not a long time with PD so maybe there should not be much degeneration...although with some folk here,there seems to be a quicker slide in health.
But....having been asked what I do to maintain my energy...etc..and having been sadly disappointing with my reply in terms of concrete evidence such as alternative therapies[my lifestyle is really quite wild and chaotic] I have come to the conclusion that this factor may [or may not] help.

When I was at rock bottom physically[unable to walk more than a few yards,and with a shuffle only...my sister in law [a physiotherapist] taught me about finding new pathways through ...you know..the message centre of our bodies.And in so doing,instilled in me the need to understand what was happening to our limbs in order to complete a task or process.
For example...we take walking for granted and most folk don`t think about it.Well I had too REALLY THINK about it.She drew what was happening with,not only my feet ,when I walked..but also the effect on my knees,hips,pelvis,back...so that the alignment of the entire body was considered.
I had to practice walking up and down my lounge for minutes at a time,but also had to say out loud what I wanted my limbs to do.
I had to PREPARE my whole body for the simple act of walking a few steps.;
align the pelvis...free the hips and follow through to the knee...place my feet in position,and "feel" the movement as I proceded.I also had to speak these instructions out loud to focus on the correct strike of my heel first...to hit the ground...then roll onto the ball of my foot,swing with the opposite arm...and feel the looseness in my hip.
I was frustrated,at first...managing only one step and then having to start over because my arm was still glued to my side.But in time,and with much effort,I can now walk freely without the accompanying instruction.
I apply this method to whatever I can.
Simple..maybe too simple.But it works for me.
Sort of like a re-training of thought process.

Yes...you feel a bit of an *** when you are jabbering to yourself,and the neighbours are looking in...but hey...they think again when I sashay down the road in my high heels and skin tight jeans.

Get practising your vocals.You can do it.

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