Has anyone had any improvement in their gait by using the laser light?
I've got good upper body movement but my balance and gait are most of the time quite poor.
Since using the laser beam for a few months now I'm very impressed as are my family and friends at how well I walk now.
The light doesn't work in sunlight so when I'm outdoors it's best I find at night time, shade or overcast weather then I can see it and indoors always.
I didn't take much notice of it when it was marketed but have found it to be very beneficial at correcting my gait.
Its hard to explain how or why it works to others but it does.
Kind of like lines on the floor I guess!

hello made it up,

I have found infrared heating pads to be very comforting - in times of stress .. Also I believe the infrared pad is aiding and quickening the healing of a fractured shoulder my companion sustained.

How do you use your laser and what kind is it?

I have a pair of blue tinted sunglasses that quiet tremor and dyskinesia as well.

There is a great utube video documenting this....

sincerely,
md

i experience freezing when off when walking thru narrow passages such as doorways or facing an obstacle in my path, not to say wakling is easy when off, i usually don't walk unless i have to. i purchased a mini $1 laser/flashlight with batteries from the DOLLAR STORE, you have to keep the button pushed down to shine the light but it helps me get moving, just shine the light to where you want to step. i doubt this is the same laser light made it up is referring to, there are ones on walkers and canes that project a line on the ground that you step on(?) over(?)

It must be a laser pointer light?

Hi Moondaughter, Soccertese and Jomar,
It's been on the market for just the last few years and is used to help PWP who get freezing of gait mainly.
Other movement disorders have also been helped by it but it was originally marketed for PWP.
It comes attached to a walking frame or walking stick and can also be attached to your waistband and the laser light creates a line on the floor.
I find stepping on the line it creates to be very helpful in stopping F.O.G. otherwise known as 'ending up on the floor!' when my body wants to move but my feet don't.
My neuro recommended it.
I'm still raving about it a few months after getting one which came attached to a U Step walking frame.
I have a spinal cord injury too so I tend to drag my feet which complicates things a bit.
I'm sure it won't help all parkies but I find that such a simple thing has made a difference in my Q.O.L.
When outside in sunny weather I can't see the line so tend to use it in the evening, shade or indoors.

Oh I see..
http://www.ustep.com/index.htm

I thought the laser line would be going out away from the person , so they would would be visually/mentally tracking it to encourage forward motion.
So the line goes side to side across in front of you for 1 step at a time?
You have to look down a lot for it to work or mainly only when you feel a freeze coming on?

For freezing, dads therapist suggested stopping, stand up straight, relax & take deep breath, then step, but he usually uses a rolling walker now 95% of the time.

I have spent a lot of time both using and studying IR light for healing. There is lot of scientific evidence that IR opens the endothelial layer in blood vessels .. the same action that's required for an immune response, thus enabling white blood cells, etc thru the vessel wall to the area, thus treating the area.

Here's something to consider along this line to try to treat the deep brain .. it's an IR light system that you place in your sinuses for lighting the lower portion of the brain. You could build one if you desired but the price on these units are not bad. The maker is in Canada and sells a lot in the far east.

http://www.mediclights.com/vielight-810-infrared-2/

I do use IR lights for all kinds of healing, when needed. It seems best on muscle aches, knees and such but I did use it daily for when I broke my 5th metatarsal (long bone behind little toe) last spring. It healed quickly (I was able to skip the last few x-rays that were scheduled) despite the fact that I'm 61 and it was a twisting kind of break, not just a simple crack.

When I use IR I keep to 7-10 minutes depending on the dept of the area involved. Shoulders get more time, maybe 15 minutes. BTW IR goes right thru the bone. I think I read that treatment can penetrate thru the thick skull to about half to 3/4" or so into the brain. Additional time does NOT help and seems to be less effective. Pulsing systems are deemed better but I have not used them. I just use the IR lights for security systems, as can be easily purchased as components or complete lights off of Ebay, etc. They are fairly cheaply built so don't expect them to last forever.

Also it's good for RLS. I built a gridwork of IR lights and treat my lower legs as needed. It can help repair the vessels themselves, as in varicose veins. IR is being used for TBI by the VA too, at least in testing and having some success.

I'm told that NBA teams (basketball) use it on shoulders too.

It's all really fascinating stuff. An external method of manipulating the immune system. I HOPE the FDA doesn't expend too much effort on this technology. They could easily kill it, just like they did with fecal transplants.

I hope this helps

Hi Jomar,
Yes, getting your Dad to stand up straight, relax and take a deep breath as he's about to start walking with frame is great advice and something I try and remember to do when I grab the frame.
I do look down at the laser beam a fair bit but still poke my head up to see where I'm going etc.
It's pointed so the light shines crossways on the ground so I step on the light and it gives me a nice steady more controlled walk.
Definitely a big help with freezing episodes and a spinal cord injury added to having P.D. makes a walk anywhere just that bit more 'challenging!'
I find the U Step frame is much sturdier than other frames.
The downside is its big and heavy for me to lift in and out of my car.
Regards