I am battling constantly to stand up straight, and
walk with good posture, but it's easier said than done. With all the best
intentions, I start off in an upright position, but it doesn't take long before
my shoulders are hunched forward and I start to take on the appearance of an
old lady (according to my daughter!). Of late I have become breathless and a muscular ache stretches across
my chest and terrible back ache - which is due to bad posture. By sitting or standing in a hunched
position, I am literally squashing my heart and lungs.
Working daily with Nordic Walking Poles helps tremendously with posture and gait, although I have found it not to be long lasting. When I walk without the poles, I seem to automatically revert to shuffling and poor posture. Voice therapy, having to stand up straight and empty one's lungs whilst sounding like a bad audition for a horror movie, again my posture is helped. I am finding that everything is linked, and by doing all you can to improve balance, gait, posture, voice and various other aspects, it's like a chain reaction. If I am calm and relaxed, engrossed in something I enjoy doing, I feel generally much better. Pottering around the garden, I can completely lose track of time. I'm sure everyone has their own activity or hobby that is absorbing. It's very important to keep busy and occupied, which helps keep Parkinson's in the background. When a patient has no interest or hobbies, and does nothing all day, the negative effects of being idle can become detrimental causing Parkinson's to rapidly advance.
I am often snowed under
from my writing, and answering e-mails, and campaigning, barely having time to
breathe, but were it not for all my endeavours that keep my mind active, I don't
think I would be faring so well. Concerned family and friends often ask if this
is all too much for me, and some days I must admit I feel as if I am drowning
in e-mails, articles, writing and correspondence, but I wouldn't have it any
other way. I am determined to do all I can whilst still able. The day I stop
writing will be a sad day indeed, for it will not be from choice.
Working daily with Nordic Walking Poles helps tremendously with posture and gait, although I have found it not to be long lasting. When I walk without the poles, I seem to automatically revert to shuffling and poor posture. Voice therapy, having to stand up straight and empty one's lungs whilst sounding like a bad audition for a horror movie, again my posture is helped. I am finding that everything is linked, and by doing all you can to improve balance, gait, posture, voice and various other aspects, it's like a chain reaction. If I am calm and relaxed, engrossed in something I enjoy doing, I feel generally much better. Pottering around the garden, I can completely lose track of time. I'm sure everyone has their own activity or hobby that is absorbing. It's very important to keep busy and occupied, which helps keep Parkinson's in the background. When a patient has no interest or hobbies, and does nothing all day, the negative effects of being idle can become detrimental causing Parkinson's to rapidly advance.
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