Maria- this is such a perfect article for me---- thank you for always being 2 steps ahead

Good morning. I wonder whether you could summarise this article https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10...

Sure thing, Siggy! The article you sent is called "Compensation Strategies for Gait Impairments in Post-Stroke Patients". It talks about different strategies that can be used to help people who have had a stroke and have difficulty walking. The authors discuss how people who have had a stroke often have problems with their balance, strength, and coordination, which can make walking difficult. The article suggests that physical therapy and other interventions can help people regain their ability to walk, and it provides examples of different types of exercises and techniques that can be used. Does that help, or would you like more detail?

Could you give more detail especially anything relating to Parkinson’s?

Sure, I can provide more information about compensation strategies for gait impairments specifically in Parkinson's disease. Some common strategies include:
- Tai chi and other balance-focused exercises to improve coordination and balance
- Wearing ankle weights or using a weighted vest to increase the challenge of walking exercises
- Using a walker or cane to provide extra support and stability
- Practicing walking on uneven surfaces or using a rocking board to improve balance and stability
- Incorporating rhythmic music or metronome to improve gait rhythm and timing
- Engaging in activities such as dancing, marching, or aerobic exercise to improve overall gait patterns.
These strategies can help improve gait and mobility in people with Parkinson's disease, and may help to delay the progression of the disease.

I used Heypi.com to create this summary and I hope it helps someone.

Thank you, @A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, I glanced over the article. I also found it difficult to follow but I think I got the gist of it. Correct me if I'm wrong. They are discussing the difference between helping Parkinson's patients improve our gait in therapy by encouraging the patients verbally, with music, bouncing balls, or stimulating our brains with something mechanical along with other methods.
I would like to see more experimentation using service dogs. I wish I could find it again to reference, but I read one inconclusive article. I believe the problem is that they were using the wrong type of harness on the dogs. They described the harness as similar to harnesses used to guide the blind, with a stiff handle so that the patient walked close up against the side of the dog.
We don't need to be guided the same as a blind person. We know where we want to go and how to get there. We simply need our bodies to cooperate with our desires. I ordered a simple "service dog" harness online. The handle didn't come up very high so I attached a bungee cord. My dog pulls me causing an effect similar to a gait cycle except that it is while I am walking naturally. When "Baby" helps me, I don't think about every step. She is better than a machine because she senses how tired I am versus how quickly I need to go. Usually, my husband is with me and she helps me keep up with him although she will follow whomever I direct her. If she is familiar with where we are, she usually knows where I want to go. When I take her into a new restaurant, we may have a little difficulty when I'm trying to have her help me get to the restroom but she is a great help taking me back to the table.
I have read other articles that discuss service dogs that help with other tasks such as picking things up, opening doors, and pulling wheelchairs. I trained Baby myself and I don't have the skills to teach her all those complicated skills but then she's 8 years old, now. I don't know how long she will be able to continue to pull me. I would like to explore replacing her when necessary with a dog that can do what Baby does because I don't know that I will be able to train another dog and my needs will be progressing and I will probably need a dog that has these other skills.

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Thank you, I will, I used to be a voracious sreader too!

Don’t feel bad Merrilee; I have such problems and I used to be a voracious reader. Try again when you’re feeling your best.
@A MyParkinsonsTeam Member, thank you; those are questions I’ve been unable to find answers to.
Teresa 2

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