Thinking about Rick's "staircase effect", perhaps climbing provides feedback to the brain that it doesn't get when walking on a flat surface, so closed loop control is enabled, and we move better.

We're also more consciously aware of what we're doing when we climb, and it requires us to use more muscle power.

Any other ideas?

Z.Flower,

Good comparison though not same pathways.
Have you ever heard of the use of DAF effect (delay audiofeeback) on stuttering and even on PD impaired voices (dysarthria)?

As I am talking about sounds, I want to tell you how senitive I am to noise, more specially in OFF times, feeling my body shivers "inside"following rhythm of environing sounds, as if I had become a sound box.
This impaires my akinesia and may even be painful at times.

Coming back to FREE (banding effests), it would be really great to get the following details after everyone trials :

1. parameters for bandage itself: · width · elasticity

2. parameters for wrapping : . tight or not, large surface covered or not,
position toward joints

3. schedule : before ON, beginning of OFF, full deep OFF

4. duration of banding,


Then, motor effects

1. Importance : from 0 to 100%

2. Time duration banding/wrapping and effect: immediate, delay of..

3. Effects duration

4. Variations of effects during trials : constant effect , increasing effect, decreasing effect


This is only to help for us to get clear and full of useful details testimonials, not a compulsory duty.

Anne

Some things are simply not acceptble. I choose to think our brain cells are asleep and that a remedy will be found that will reawaken them. Dead or asleep, the original, taken for granted circuits are in disarray. What used to be the natural jobs of feet and legs and hands and arms, etc. requre constant, conscious commands from an easily distracted, tired brain.

Your observations, Rick, Anne and Zucchiniflower, are important to all of us. I feel that we are all climbing up a vast hill with you, gathering facts about our illness that only we can document, important facts that will lead to vastly improved understanding.

It is very strange how difficult it is to walk across a large, empty floor, or along a nice, flat, paved path, when the same legs can walk happily and well on a bumpy, mossy, hilly forest path, and, of course, run up and down steps.

I have not had any luck with bands yet. I tried it only once, on the calf of my leg, and was discouraged because it didn't make any difference. I will try again.
What does help me stand up from sitting - one of my very big problems - is to hit and rub the knee of my left leg to remind it of its job, and then to concentrate my thoughts on my left heel as I struggle up. I can sometimes get up in one go then, while it takes four or more when I'm in a hurry and forget. The touch helps the leg react.

It is very interesting, Anne, what you say about your reaction to sound. I find music with 'ta boom, ta boom, ta boom' drumming completely distracting and even painful. It makes me pant, I lose my breath, and my heart begins to race. I just wonder if it is PD related. Years ago my son would turn off his favourite music on the car radio on the way from school, "You're panting again, Mor!" he would say. On the other hand, maybe the cells in my brain had already begun to fall asleep all those years ago.

Please keep up the creative speculation.

birte