“The main symptoms include tremors, stiff muscles and joints, and slowness or difficulty in walking,” Dr Jyoti Bala Sharma, director of neurology, Fortis Hospital, Noida said
World Parkinson’s Disease Day is observed every year on April 11. This year, the theme for the day is ‘integrated health care’ – considered vital for all those living with Parkinson’s disease.
The theme aims to stress the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving mental health support, nutritional support, exercise, and language for the holistic well-being of those affected by this disease. As such, it is significant to pay special focus towards one’s balance, walking, standing, reflexes and lifestyle to cope with Parkinson’s disease along with required medical treatment.
Dr Sharma shared some tips to take better care of these symptoms.
*If you have a tendency to fall backward or feel lightheaded, move slowly when changing positions. When turning around, don’t pivot your body. Walk forward and make a wide U-turn to avoid sharp turns that could cause you to lose your balance.
*When getting up from bed, sit on the side of the bed for 15 seconds before standing. Stand in place with support for an additional 15 seconds before walking. This can prevent dangerous falls.
Reflexes
A decrease in automatic reflexes complicates trying to do two things at once. For instance, it may be difficult to walk and look away at something or attend to a conversation at the same time, the expert explained.
“Try to minimize distractions for maximal gait and balance control,” she suggested.
Standing
*If you have to stand for an extended period, keep your feet slightly apart for better balance.
*If getting out of a chair is difficult, place your feet directly under your knees and stand up firmly to overcome the pull of gravity. Rather than bearing excessive weight on the hands and arms to stand erect, use the large thigh muscles to propel the body upward.
“Practicing this manoeuvre strengthens the quadriceps muscle and helps maintain independent ambulation,” Dr Sharma said.
A decrease in automatic reflexes complicates trying to do two things at once. For instance, it may be difficult to walk and look away at something or attend to a conversation at the same time, the expert explained.
Walking
*Avoid shoes with rubber or crepe soles. These stick to the floor and may cause you to trip.
*Consciously lift your feet when you walk. This will help you to keep from shuffling or falling due to foot drag.
*Don’t carry objects in both hands when you walk. This can cause you to lose your balance.
*Swing both arms freely when walking. Gently swinging the arms helps maintain balance and lessens fatigue.
If the feet feel frozen when initiating movement, several physical strategies can break the pattern, she said. “One can step over an actual or imaginary obstacle in the path to continue forward motion. Rocking from side to side also can break the sensation of being stuck in place. It is not helpful for a companion to pull the patient forward or urge the patient verbally as this will often prolong the freezing period.”
Lifestyle modifications
*Staying active can help to loosen stiff muscles and improve speech or posture. Exercises daily, and practise yoga and meditation.
*Try to keep your weight at a normal level as being overweight puts additional strain on your joints and may affect your mobility.
**********************************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken the small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, to run a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will makes a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com