How much do you rely on visual feedback or cues when you walk? I rely on vision an awful lot.

When I enter my apartment, I usually turn on the light switch next to the door. If not, I have to walk several steps ahead of me to reach for the light over my stove. When I try to walk those few steps in the dark (and it is not even pitch black because of a light outside my window), I have a lot of trouble walking.
I walk very slowly, short steps and I feel unstable. I usually look down when I walk, and when it is dark, I cannot see anything. {for some reason firefox will not let me use apostrophes!}

Same thing outdoors when I encounter a darker area and I cannot see lines on the sidewalk. I slow down and feel less stable and my steps are shorter, even with my internal metronome.

In the case of my apartment, I clearly know the way. It seems my gait depends on vision. I have much trouble walking with my eyes closed, even for just a few steps. I am very hesitant and unstable. I think I need visual feedback for my motor system to work right. I think my internal cues are defective. But it may also be a balance problem, too.

Can you walk with your eyes closed? How important is vision to your gait?

most of us have impaired balance and motor control. We compensate with our vision, thus if that is impaired, well, a crash or at least a stumble results.

if you don't believe me, try walking blind folded!!
Make sure you have a person standing by to catch you.


Charlie

I, too, go wobbly when I close my eyes but not so much in a darkened room with which I am familiar. I have also had some success breaking freezing by quickly closing and reopening my eyes as I step.

I wonder what might result from physical therapy blindfolded? If a stroke damages one arm it recovers better if the HEALTHY arm is put into a sling you know..

-Rick

I know exactly what you're talking about. I did learn something years ago that has helped me tremendously. Whenever I work out, and I've been doing this for many, many years, I close my eyes whenever possible. The theory is that it helps "train" your brain and balance system and I swear it works. I first learned this when doing dry-land training for ice hockey.

For example, when I'm doing the "kicking and punching" section of my aerobic workout, I always close my eyes and work on maintaining my balance. You can also do this when practicing yoga or tai chi for example. It's a little strange at first, and I imagine more difficult for those suffering balance problems now as part of their disease, but it's worth trying. Just don't expect miracles overnight and use common sense when practicing.

With balance becoming such a huge part of our disease as we progress, I believe it's extremely important to work on this component. If you can get into physical therapy to start, that would be good. Good luck!

Todd
PDTalks.com

I spent two weeks in a hospital a few years back which had a specialized Parkinsons section.
They had a team of different para medical staff who treated PWP exclusively and so were very knowledgeable about it.
The physiotherapist during her session with me got me to close my eyes while she stood (ready to catch me luckily) as I would have fallen otherwise.
She gave me a lecture on the perils of that and I've noticed since too if for instance I'm in the shower and close my eyes for a moment I now know to hold onto the railing or risk a fractured femur!
I guess it's a parkinson thing.
Cheers,
Lee

[QUOTE=Todd;50649]I know exactly what you're talking about. I did learn something years ago that has helped me tremendously. Whenever I work out, and I've been doing this for many, many years, I close my eyes whenever possible. The theory is that it helps "train" your brain and balance system and I swear it works. I first learned this when doing dry-land training for ice hockey.

For example, when I'm doing the "kicking and punching" section of my aerobic workout, I always close my eyes and work on maintaining my balance. You can also do this when practicing yoga or tai chi for example. It's a little strange at first, and I imagine more difficult for those suffering balance problems now as part of their disease, but it's worth trying. Just don't expect miracles overnight and use common sense when practicing.


dear Todd,
I agree, I did the eyes closedtest at the doctors office many years ago -
I was very amazed by how badly my balance was, but I had a neighbor who was blind, and he walked - also my sister with Mutiple Sclerosis, her therapist
told her to close her eyes and work on finding her center of balance,
so we both practice balance with our eyes closed...
I have never listened very closely -when someone tells me - "You can't"
that is when I will try harder!

It makes a big difference to me if I am familiar with the terrain. Then I have no problem. In Winter here in the UK, when I get up, usually 6-00am, it is very dark. However, I am always amazed how I can find my way with no lights, and when I have closed the bathroom door to avoid waking my wife, I can put my hand unerringly every time on to the small hanging switch. It is like a blind person with an enhanced sense. In unfamiliar terrain, I generally need to hold on to something. My balance is much worse.
Happy Xmas to all, from Merry England.
I am hoping to meet Greg this week, who is in England for Xmas.
Ron

But I practice all year round The hard part is judjing your whole 3 dimensional change that happens about us. Remember when you were a kid, and had "senses" that were keen; and you could run by the light of the moon, as if it were the glory of the sunshine of the next day.
But us PWP shouldn't wander around in the dark. Our balance can be very compromised, and then you fall, and fall again.
Get some of the higher wattage nite-lite bulbs, and place them at nodes of areas where you will be walking. This way, you've always got a "beacon'' of light, which I find pretty good at aligning direction, and avoiding any number of obstacles that you had no idea were there.

and so very thought provoking.The replies are so helpful as it is something I really hadn`t considered until now. Indeed,according to my husband,I have a hard job managing walking a straight line during daylight,often starting on the same side of the road as him,but ending up on the other. YIKES. But I put that down to window shopping whilst I`m walking... I drift!!!
Someone said here that it was a Parkinson "thing" Do you reckon?My hubby trains for fire fighting,and has often described the disorientation that ensues during pitch black training.And he is as steady as a rock normally,very focussed and sure footed.I on the other hand still have nightmares from pinning the tail on the donkey blindfold as a kid at a party. My sense of balance is zilch..courtesy of middle ear problems but having said that I love the idea of training oneself to deal with heightening the senses in darkness...helpful for all sorts of situations.
Still...its made me feel better about myself. When one lightbulb blows in my cottage,the whole ruddy lot blows too and up until now I just thought I was a "nancy"...scared to budge in case of trippipng over dogs,humans,hoovers etc. NOW i know its commonplace,
Off to the graveyard to negotiate the headstones.

Brilliant questiion.Thanks.

this has been in the forefront of my mind since reading it a few months ago.

is it any wonder pd'ers have executive dysfunction!

http://www.comeychiropractic.com/bodybalance.htm

there is simply no way i can walk in the dark ... anymore. pre pd it was not a problem at all. chalk it up to asymmetry and muscle fatique-- among other things!