How to get Unstuck from a Parkinson's Freezing Episode - The '5S' Method

Do you feel like you have "lead feet" or a "lead bottom" when you're trying to walk or stand up from a chair? This common complaint, called "freezing" (or "motor block"), effects 1 in 3 people with Parkinson's Disease.

In this Power for Parkinson's Wellness Corner, physical therapist Sarah King will teach you how to use the "5 S" method to get unstuck from a Parkinson's DIsease freezing episode and on with your life.

For more great tips on how you can live a life full of energy and vitality, despite your diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, check out Invigorate Physical Therapy and Wellness at www.InvigoratePT.com .

© 2016 Invigorate Physical Therapy and Wellness

[gaminghub]

I m 4th year medical student.currently studying rehabilitation medicine... thanks for video

[bdtobias]

Thanks for the 5 S tips. I'll try them next time I'm stuck. One thing I've found helpful to overcome middle of the night stumbling and shudder stepping, is to swing my arms. I don't understand how it works, but it does.

[kimdesouza]

This is simple yet very informative and helpful. I find that if I cross my feet when taking that first step helps. So I put my right foot up and over my left foot for my first step

[zoyaszoyos]

I’m new to Parkinson and like your advice and techniques very much

[conobrien]

The 5 S method is a great help thanks again

[jcarlson]

Thank you ! This can be so frustrating. I’m friends know I I raise my hand I need their hand.
Palm-to-palm works like a phone charger ! Once I’m charged I can stand, sit or walk normal. Your tips will sure help when I’m alone. Thanks again

[SuperCyclingMan]

Thanks for posting this 😀 Was looking for some help with my Dad's freezing epsiodes that have become stronger and more frequent in recent weeks. Both of us liked the clear 5S ideas you mentioned and we'll give them a go! Thanks again for your work from a grateful family in the UK 🌍💪🏼 #UniteForParkinsons

[selenacasper]

The last one is impractical, many people with pd don’t have the strength or balance to raise a knee or shoot up from a chair. It’s near impossible.

[astridbailey]

thank you for the ideas some i know work. The Big exercise program is quite the same but still love to know there are folks like you that are looking for ways to make this horrible disease little bit more tolerable.

[joefernandes]

Yes these exercises will help me unfreeze

[saidmiad]

Bonjour Sarah, Stop & Relax is the only one solution. I use this technique when i Merci beaucoup.

[brianrobson]

do you have a method for climbing stairs i find that i lean back as i go and have twice fallen back even after installing a second handrail the only way i can safely negociate the stairs is on all fours

[LoganCartwright]

Great ideas. I'd pretty much found most this out on my own, amazing how these steps are so helpful. Especially the straightening up one's posture and the big step. Also i have a dedicated foot (driver;-)) to put forward in case of potential forward freeze/fall. In my case it's my left foot, but have trained (given permission) for the right foot to act as a immediate safety should the left stall. Having just learned that an Australian team found counting/talking and walking are all processed by the pre-frontal cortex, I'm practicing communicated directly with for smooth walking (no talking) but count helps while off-time any C/L. No DBS. Visualize confidence which approaching obstacles. Side stepping through narrow areas, and making radius walking turns, not 90 degrees. I like your style. I'll be back.
logan
Santa Cruz, Ca.

[JimErickson]

Sarah King,
I was first diagnosed 10 years ago, so I have had a while to try different things. At one time or another I have had success with the steps that make up the 5S method. Something else that often works when I am standing and find it difficult to take a step is taking a cross-over step. I should mention that I also walk with a cane after my hip replacement.

So in the cross-over step I stand up straight, shift most of my weight to my left foot while balancing with a cane. I raise my right foot from my heel to the ball of my foot so that only the toes are touching the floor. Then I slide my right foot turning it out from its normal orientation to a place just in front of my left foot. Then I re-balance on both feet and do the crossover again. I find this method to be very handy first thing in the morning.

[valeriecaucusse]

Hello and thank you for your useful tip /I use them and it is much better now. Many many thanks !

[carolelambert]

I found most of those methods effective however a tip a PT person gave me a while ago is extremely helpful to me hopefully it will be to others ...that is to take a long and low stride Instead of the upward step advised here . After I straighten up and stand straight and hold my stomach in and stuff. I can then take a long low step and this works very
well for me

[kirankhanna]

Hi am from India and I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about three years ago. I freeze when I am walking .I have seen your video for the first time today only. One exercise. I find difficult is. The lasts one in which you want us to shoot out of the chair I am sitting. On .i hope this will improve once I do these exercises regularly . I will write back to you and tell you how how much help it has done for me..

[rickholding]

Hi Sarah, as I mentioned in my email, I had learned some of these techniques with the Big exercises/PT. I think your ideas are all great though and one that helps and reminds me is to simply stop and relax. I also tend to start leaning forward trying to force my self to walk. When I do freeze I have noticed my leg muscles seem like they are going into spasms. This is where your advice to stop helps and I would ad relax or as you say "shake it off". To get my leg to lift I often envision a football quarterback saying "hike" and lifting his leg in and exaggerated way just before the ball is hiked.

[PaulRaeburn]

I find that a few seconds of meditation to help me focus on the freezing often frees me up.

[neverstillmechanic]

Great video. Thank you . I learnt something. I step over an imaginary curb to get unstuck.