Visit michaeljfox . org / ask-the-md to learn more about living well with Parkinson ’ s and recent Parkinson ’ s research topics .
Spring / Summer 2024 | Living with Parkinson ’ s 15
+ Keep tricks up your sleeve . There are many “ cues ” that can move you through a freeze . A Parkinson ’ s physical or occupational therapist can teach you a few options and help you practice to find the ones that work best . ( See box for examples of cues .)
+ Don ’ t follow the crowd . Avoiding big groups of people or small spaces isn ’ t , of course , always possible . But you can plan outings for when a location is typically less busy . And always give yourself plenty of time so you don ’ t feel hurried , which can bring on freezing .
+ Walk to a different beat . Practice walking to the beat of a metronome or specific music . A good beat syncs brain and walking rhythms for a smoother gait and less freezing . A physical and / or music therapist can help .
+ Watch where you ’ re going . Look for places in your home that could cause freezing or falls . A physical or occupational therapist can help and suggest workarounds — putting a strip of colored tape on the floor where you freeze or posting a cue card near the chair that ’ s hard to get out of .
+ Make a fall plan . What would you do if you fell ? How would you help a loved one who fell ? A physical therapist can teach fall safety . Some people feel more secure wearing a watch , bracelet or necklace that alerts emergency services or a loved one if you need help . And , if you live alone , make sure loved ones can get in , if needed — share a spare key or leave one in a lockbox outside .
There ’ s much you can do — especially with the guidance of a Parkinson ’ s physical and / or occupational therapist — to manage freezing . Find an expert by asking your doctor or others in the community or search online at lsvtglobal . com / LSVTFindClinicians .
Cues to Move through Freezing
INTERNAL CUES :
Positive attitude : Reconnect with the here and now . Limit worry and stress .
Mental rehearsal : Pause . Review and visualize the actions to take a step .
Internal dialogue : Repeat “ big steps ” in your mind .
EXTERNAL CUES :
Floor markers : Focus on a change in floor pattern you can cross with your next step .
Cue cards : Break movement into a series of steps and write on a card ; post where you typically freeze .
Touch cues : A tap on the shoulder from a loved one might break freezing .
For more on these and other cues as well as tips to help with exercise for brain health and life with PD , download our new guide at michaeljfox . org / exercise .
Visit michaeljfox . org / ask-the-md to learn more about living well with Parkinson ’ s and recent Parkinson ’ s research topics .