Stop Parkin' and Start Livin' by John C. Coleman

Author:John C. Coleman [Coleman, John C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Self-help
ISBN: 9780855724177
Publisher: Michelle Anderson Publishing
Published: 2011-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

14

Song and Dance – Talking and Walking With Parkinson’s Disease

Many of you may experience some difficulty with speech and or walking. Your voice may become softer, a stammer develop, or it may be difficult to speak the words formed in your mind. Uneven gait, freezing, festination or poor balance may inhibit your walk.

These symptoms may take some time to resolve, so here are a few ‘tricks’ to help you along the way.

Song

Our speech centre and song centre are quite distinctly different in our brain. If you have difficulty expressing yourself, or you stammer, sing the words in your mind before speaking, and this may improve. Or sing out loud. I did this quite often early in my Parkinson’s disease journey as I had to convey instructions to my crew and my stammer was bad enough to render my conversation almost unintelligible. I performed spontaneous ‘recitatives’ to say what I wanted with quite good results. I’ll never be an opera singer, but it worked.

Singing in private can also help improve your speech volume. Imagine you are performing in Carnegie Hall or the Sydney Opera House, and sing as loudly as you can – all your favourite songs, even if you can’t remember the words; make up new words. It works! Life’s an opera if you want it to be.

Dance

A common feature of Parkinson’s disease is a loss of rhythm in our walk. However, if we provide an external rhythm, for instance rhythmic music or stripes on the floor, our walk will often improve.

If you have problems walking freely, sing or hum marches or jazz tunes to yourself to bring rhythm to your movement. Walk as if you are dancing; swing your hips, bounce lightly on your feet, let your knees flex a little. Start by playing music loudly in your home while you walk to the beat, then develop the habit of ‘hearing’ that rhythm in your head as you walk. This technique will often reduce freezing as well as improving the distance you can walk safely.

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