March 27, 2024
Welcome to The Climb, your weekly journey with Lifecycle Sherpa, where we explore Parkinson’s Disease, its symptoms, treatments, tips, techniques, and build a supportive and knowledgeable community.
This week’s trail leads us to…slow movements (bradykinesia).
Question: What is bradykinesia? How can I manage it!?
Answer: Bradykinesia is a slowness of movement of the body. It results in delayed motor responses and reaction timing. It is a type of MOTOR SYMPTOM.
Tips on Management: Here is my favorite!
The best way to counteract the slowness and subsequent smallness of your movements is to put 100% effort into being the exact OPPOSITE of small. Meaning? Be BIG and OVER-EXAGGERATE with your movements. Be thorough with your movements. Complete each movement 100% before moving on to the next task!
For example: A key visual indicator of Parkinson’s Disease is a shuffled gait, meaning you do not pick up your feet when you walk and it makes a shuffle sound. So if you want to address this issue, do the opposite. With each step, put 100% effort into picking up your feet (think Godzilla walking) and placing your foot down completely and firmly before taking the next large and effortful step. It takes time and practice, but it works!
For more guidance, get a referral to see a physical or occupational therapist, and ask about seeing a therapist who is certified in the LSVT BIG Therapy Program. Stay tuned for more on the program.
We always encourage feedback, as it helps us enhance our community. Feel free to reach out regarding future topics you want to learn about, or how we can improve your experience.
See you next week!