Foot shuffling
 

Hi there,

I am on this site for my Dad. I would really appreciate people's responses since I am trying to help my Dad all by myself.

Is there any exercises or conscious things you can do to reduce foot shuffling?

My Dad is not on medication yet but I notice he has started shuffling lately.

YES indeed but this you cannot do for him. Sometimes the slower we go the faster we try but perhaps a little aikido methodology is in order here...have him slow down even if its to where he barely moves - make it a walking meditation. google "chi walking" you tube videos to engage his core muscles . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8VXrv2KVeE
Caregiving without support can be really taxing - take some time for your self.

Kind regards,
sharilyn

Have him concentrate on taking longer steps and perhaps saying aloud Left/ Right or count steps. Saying aloud before starting to walk "Stand up straight/ take a deep breath/ take long steps (or giant steps). We have to remind ourselves, because the brain fails to do this for us. What used to be automatic..now has to be PLANNED OUT. God Bless

Shuffling happens when a normal heel-toe movement gets lost. One way to counteract this is to walk mindfully, i.e. mentally tell yourself as you are walking to do this, heel, toe, heel, toe.

Tai Chi will also concentrate the mind on walking this way, many styles teach this, but it needs a teacher who will focus on stance, and health too. Hope this helps.

Also , mindful MARCHING helps. When my dopamine is low, I tend to not pick up my right leg at the knee and it takes special attention and effort to make the leg pick up. I learned so much from a friend that was a physical therapist in Florida..he taught me back in 2004 that a person with PD has to think their body into performing. The natural idea of just standing up and walking is gone because the brain can't get the neurons to carry the message there quick enough. You have to talk your body thru certain things that don't "come naturally " anymore. It means constant retraining of muscles and vigilance!!!
NEVER GIVE UP...........

it seems that your dad needs pd meds immediately, you started posting here over 3 years ago so 3 years is a long time for someone in their 70's to go without meds. not sure how you think declining mobility is less worse than levodopa's side affects,especially with the known benefits of exercise. imho, shuffling also greatly increases the risk of falling so this is imho not the time to play doctor with your father'health, especially when medication might greatly improve his quality of life and reduce your stress. now if there is some medical reason he can't take sinemet i apologize.

bubblyshar,

I was LOATHE to take any med - waited 16 years after tremor started. BUT- I was 36 then not 70. The goal for me now is to do what makes me feel BEST even if that includes medication. IF my sx started later in life i wouldn't wait so long! I stay away from any agonists and take very small dose sinemet only with fava juice and magnesium along with massage therapy, great diet, exercise, etc etc. Sinemet has given me back my life - what does your dad want?