Parkinson’s: 7 strategies to assist walking

 

The 7 categories

According to the study, gait compensation strategies fall into these seven categories:

1. External cueing — using auditory, visual, or somatosensory cues such as a metronome, laser shoes, or vibrating socks, respectively
2. Internal cueing — focusing on one’s gait, by counting, for example
3. Changing the balance requirements — making wider turns, making strategic weight shifts before stepping, or using a walking aid
4. Altering the mental state — practicing relaxation techniques
5. Action observation and motor imagery — visualizing movement or watching someone else walking and imitating their gait
6. Adapting a new walking pattern — such as by jumping or walking backward
7. Using the legs in a different way to move forward — such as by riding a bicycle or skateboard or by crawling

Surveying people with Parkinson’s

The researchers surveyed 4,324 people with Parkinson’s disease who had disabling gait impairments. Of those surveyed, 52% reported having fallen at least once in the last year, and 35% said their gait interfered with their ability to do their usual daily activities.

Individuals with Parkinson’s often report difficulties with balance, falling, shuffling, staggering, and freezing of gait, the team noted. Freezing may result from a challenging course, anxiousness, or being distracted by a secondary task, such as carrying a tray.

While the surveys revealed that many people regularly use gait compensation strategies, they were often unaware of all the different types. Only 4% were familiar with all seven, and on average, respondents knew of about three.

Among the respondents, 23% had never tried any gait compensation strategies, and 17% had never heard of them.

The strategy with which most participants were familiar — 47% — was external cueing, and 45% were familiar with internal cueing. Only 14% had heard of action observation and motor imagery.