A few months ago, Michael, 71, who has Parkinson’s, shared with me, “I’ve been doing my exercises, but I still freeze sometimes when I turn or step through a doorway. I feel strong, but the falls still happen. It’s frustrating.”
Michael’s experience is very common with Parkinson’s. Even when strength is decent, the disease affects gait, posture, and the brain’s ability to automatically coordinate movement. This often leads to:
- Stooped posture that shifts your center of gravity forward
- Shuffling gait with smaller, slower steps
- Freezing of gait — sudden, temporary inability to move your feet
- Reduced arm swing and slower protective reactions
These changes combined make falls much more likely, even in people who are relatively strong.
The encouraging news is that targeted training can make a real difference. Improving posture, practicing bigger steps, and doing specific balance and gait drills can reduce freezing episodes and help your body recover balance faster when it’s challenged.
You’ve already been building some of these protective skills with us — focused strength, balance reactions, and mindful movement.
This week, try this gentle “anti-freezing” practice (hold a counter or wall for safety):
Big Step + Pause Drill
- Stand tall, shoulders back (gentle posture reminder).
- Take 8–10 slow, deliberate steps focusing on lifting your knee slightly higher and placing a full “big step” forward.
- Every 3–4 steps, pause for 1–2 seconds, then continue.
This helps break the freezing pattern by practicing intentional, larger steps and smooth restarts. Do it a few times this week and notice how it feels.
Small, consistent practice like this can improve gait confidence and reduce fall risk over time.
If you know someone with Parkinson’s who struggles with freezing, shuffling steps, or balance… please forward this to them (or their family) right now.
