Cerebellar Degeneration
Practice makes Perfect…No Perfect Practice makes Perfect
Here is an article about practicing strokes in tennis and the follow through movement making a difference in learning. Practice and repetition is associated with neural changes in the brain. How we practice makes a big difference. In the patient world and for those with disability BalanceWear can provide the balance control needed to practice correct movement. In some cases patients do not realize what is changing and can not feel the difference. An example I noted recently; a patient with cerebellar degeneration did not really feel the difference BalanceWear made in their walking however other people did. Every time she walked she her feet hit her walker because they were so far out to the side in wide base support. When she was wearing BalanceWear her legs were underneath her and did not hit the side of the walker during gait. She said she falls daily even in her walker. Why? Because she trips herself on the walker. She did not feel the difference with her legs underneath her but she is less likely to trip on the walker. Walking with her legs underneath her with a better base of support for many miles over the next several months should provide improved control as the brain learns more accurate movement.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/287836.php?tw
International Ataxia Awareness Day
This video link is great. Watch all the videos. They are powerful.
Have a great week. Be safe.
Cindy
Falls and Emotion
Yesterday a gentleman asked why his wife falls when she becomes upset; such as in an argument.
I told him many people have to use all their cognitive resources to stay upright. When they are distracted from concentrating on their balance they fall or stumble.
Do you fall when you are distracted?
I searched on the internet but didn’t find exactly what I was looking for but found this very descriptive article on Cognition, Emotion and the Cerebellum
emohttp://www.ataxia.org/pdf/generations_articles/Cognition,%20Emotion%20and%20Cerebellum_Schmahmann_Summer%2009.pdf
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 3 so far )Cerebellar Degeneration – BalanceWear – Walking – Walking and More Walking
Terry with Cerebellar Degeneration: Her Steps to Freedom
Diagnosis: Cerebellar Degeneration.
Terry was discharged from physical therapy because she was not making progress. Her doctor told her she would remain in the wheelchair for life.
Terry did not want to accept this. Searching for ideas and treatment on the web she came across Motion Therapeutics and BalanceWear.
She went to see Andy Lesher MSPT in Bala Cynwyd, PA. Terry received BalanceWear in July 2013. The first treatment with BalanceWear and Balance-Based Torso-Weighting Terry obtained the ability to sit and stand without support for the first time in a long time.
Terry began walking with the assist of her partner. She stated “I couldn’t stop when I walked. I had no control. I would fall and my partner had to catch me.”
But..that didn’t stop Terry.
After a few months, Terry was walking with two hiking poles and a helmet and BalanceWear everyday around the neighborhood. In addition to further physical therapy and BalanceWear Terry related she did the following activities. “Tong Ren, Tai Chi, Chi Gong, Acupuncture, Reiki, Massage, Vitamins. Prayer, and Aqua Therapy. I had a positive attitude and motivation, visualization exercises, and walking, walking, walking and
walking some more with My SUPER VEST!!!!!!!”
Talk about task practice! In physical therapy we talk about training a person in the tasks they need to succeed with a mass practice.
By September (5 months later) Terry was able to walk with one hiking pole.
By November (6 months later) she started walking without any hiking poles but still wearing her BalanceWear. She continued to walk for 500 miles over the next 4 months. (That’s like 5 miles per day) The video attached to this story documents six months of her work. At 9 months she travels to the Grand Canyon and hikes in the foothills of Sedona, Arizona.
Terry has taught us a lot!
1. How much work it takes to change control.
2. Constant BalanceWear wear and walking helped her achieve what her
doctor said she never would.
