I wrote a post similar to this in reply to someone recently and as I was writing it I started to wonder if my experience was usual, or not. From first onset I completely lost my arm swing for a few years. I also gradually developed a severe limp and walking a few steps was painful. When I started meds, and then finally got onto a dose that helped, I found that while the signals were now getting through, I had to 'teach' myself to walk again, initially using complete concentration, I could only go a few steps with a more normal gait before my leg would forget what to do. I could only walk, if I started talking, i'd stop walking (too much for brain to cope with). It was such a long time since leg had behaved properly it needed much reminding what to do. After a few weeks I could walk well on my own but faltered in crowds (partly distraction and partly self consciousness). I also learnt to corner normally. Once I had leg much better trained i started on the arm - doing exaggerated marching movements was the key. I have regained quite a bit of arm swing though it varies. It does help my gait though. It felt very odd, at first, and I'd be convinced sometimes it was moving when it was barely doing anything, and hard work at first but it paid off, for me anyway. I can now walk, have some useful arm swing, AND talk about it! I'm currently teaching the arm to brush my teeth again! I have increased my dose as symptoms arose, but only by a little. I just wondered if, when PWP say their meds were aiding mobility/dexterity, whether it was a quick process, or took weeks / months aided by constant mental effort, like mine was. Currently my mobility is better than it has been for a long time, now I can walk round town on most days without having to think about it too much, I get tired and I plan an efficient route, it's not like when I was well, but not too bad. I really don't know if this mental effort kept my meds at a lower dose, or whether I'd have given myself an easier time by just taking a higher dose.
I am now curious to hear other people's experiences!

Thanks for posting the road map back to normal walking! I suppose when one has been walking for 50 years then it gets taken away there's an assumption that when the meds are "right", it'll just come back. Ffffft! wrong... I'm learning that I will need both the meds and the gym to get close to a normal gait.

Yes, it's an odd thing, I agree gym or something like it must help cos muscles that have not worked for ages must get very weak. I also for a while both before and after meds started working, had to actually look at my legs in order to get them to obey, which meant missing most of what went on around me as I was too busy studying the pavement! Also walking has always been my 'thing' as I used to be a hiker so it seemed obvious to practise it because it was something I used to love, and was so sad to lose that simple pleasure. Walking a small walk in beautiful scenery is still fab though.
I wonder what experiences other people had, as this might not work for me next time, there may be other ways...

Gosh I thought this would be a positive and interesting thread, and thanks to Hammer for the one reply! I hope that for the many of you who have read this, you have been lucky enough to get some relief from your symptoms at some point (I've had symptoms nearly 6 yrs, now age 38). How much came via meds, and how much by other means? I'm starting to realise it's not a clear cut question...but my experience I found it fascinating, all the stages of regaining abilities...jolly hard work though.
Interestingly, and sadly, after two years of visible limping with no interruptions from the general public, within a week of beginning to move with a more normal gait, but having to look at my feet, and stop frequently (still learning) I had two sets of people make stupid, unpleasant comments to me. It shows that a small minority don't like it when they can't understand, or see, what is wrong with you. Fortunately I was so engrossed in the process of walking that I didn't really take it in until later!
Please think about making a comment about any improvements you've had, what happened, it might help us all in the future to think of different ways to go at it...for me my efforts give me hope that I can have a bit of control alongside my meds, while I have no illusions about this disease process that hope is something I find invaluable at the moment

Dear Jo72

I too have had unpleasant comments about my gait, usually from sniggering teenagers. Didn't help my already low self-confidence.
I drag my left leg & sometimes have to manually manipulate it to get it to move My left arm doesn't want to swing. From a standing start I need to rock a little to get going, then woe betide anyone who tries to stop me. Changing diretion requires concentration. I have been encouraged by a physio to use walking sticks to encourage arm swing. No wonder the kids snigger!
I really do not know whether the medication I take (requip) helps my mobility. It seems like sometimes it does & sometimes not. To be honest, I have given up analysing.
But I do know that some form of excercise, even if just walking to the garden gate or 'Dancing' to music (behind closed doors & often whilst lying on the bed) on a daily basis is a must for me. And I think the benefit comes from the satisfaction of knowing I can, albeit slowly & ungracefully, at least as much as from giving the old muscles some work to do

It's odd isn't it this walking thing?

If my meds are okay, it's not something that crosses my mind but when they're not it's all thunderbird walking. The trouble is once you think about it everything comes crashing around your ears.

I find that if I keep my hands in my pocket/arms crossed I can walk and if I try and move my arms, my legs don't work Funnily enough I feel like my thigh rotates when my gait is weird (similar to another thread talking about rotating arms at the moment)

yes P does keep adding in new rules without telling you, I know what you mean about 'thinking' scuppering the movement. Once my mobility got a bit more automatic I found that if I thought about it consciously it would get worse. i persevered with just the legs for a lot longer and only added in the arm once that 'thinking' problem had reduced...mind you i have plenty of days where i don't know what to do with my arms, if i'm a bit under par. One useful thing about complete concentration when walking, is it totally blocks out room for any other problems to be ruminated on - you're 'in the moment' but in a positive way trying to achieve, a bit like mindful practice. (remembering to look at where you're going occasionally, esp when strolling on cliffs etc!)

Hi Jo72,
Thanks for starting this thread. Walking was an activity I loved to do. Used to go on walking holidays a lot , and have been fortunate enough to have climbed some memorable mountains and peaks.
Now , I have to work out, medication wise , the optimum time to go out and do the essential tasks we all need to get done. Later in the day, seems best for me , and sometimes , I find myself flying around the shops , and have completely forgotten , it's coming up to next medication time.
I'm not good at going for a walk on my own, and when walking with others (o/h in particular) feel I'm too slow , and hold them up.Strangely enough, if walking alone , with no-one else to measure my speed , I feel I'm walking at normal rate.
I have no problem with gait , or arm swing, just stamina! I'd welcome any thoughts from others. Best wishes.

The tendency for Parkinson’s to make us lean forward causes us take smaller steps, making walking slower and more tiring. (Try leaning forward and taking long steps – it’s almost impossible). I’m currently trying to teach myself to stand up straight keeping my shoulders back and I’m also doing back-strengthening exercises. I find that swinging my legs from the hips when I walk, instead of concentrating on my feet, stops me from scraping the floor with my left foot. It also helps with the arm swing as it promotes a kind of ‘swagger’, which I much prefer to a limp.

I’m not fully there yet, as I keep having to remind myself to stand - and sit - up straight, but I’m hoping it will become automatic in time. I’m a strong believer in exercise to strengthen the muscles and thereby reduce fatigue. Like Lorna, I've conquered several mountains in the past (including Ben Nevis) but I can’t manage much more than a few miles on the flat now. However, if I can hold on to that through exercise, I will be more than happy.

Lorna: I would recommend walking a neighbour's dog. It can be very entertaining, and if the dog is big and strong (like my son's Retriever), (s)he can pull you along!

Lily I'd be interrested to know how you get on improving your posture. Training limbs I could do well, but at the moment i seem to arch backwards when the good leg moves forward, straining my back. I've started back strengthening exercises too but so far only succeeded in straining my back even more! Though it's on the mend now. Overall posture seems harder to correct than dealing with errant limbs. The swinging walk you talk about really helped me when my mobility was very poor, I often had to resort to 'boogying' down the street (could be fun for a while!). I also used to sing a song in my head to walk to, which helped. Like others, I was an avid hiker, and just glad I knocked off some of those mountains while I was able ... I remember being in love with a good hike and hoping nothing would ever stop me walking. Now I have shifted the goal posts and learnt to sit and appreciate the scenery a little more.