Mobility Aids for Someone With Parkinson's Disease
Excerpted from The Comfort of Home for Parkinson DiseaseTM
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Often the best mobility aid for a person with Parkinson's disease is a cuing aid. PT's and OT's from Struthers Parkinson's Center in Minnesota (a NPF center of excellence http://www.parkinson.org) will use reflective tape lines across hallways to provide cuing for walking. Many people with Parkinson's will use an ipod as a mobility aid -- music can provide cuing. Laser-line canes have also been found effective, for a time. After a while, the laser line loses its effectiveness as a cue. Don't forget to look into cuing before jumping to stability tools. It can be valuable to consult a music therapist to see if auditory cuing can provide a benefit. Check the NPF provider registry for PT's, OT's and music therapists who have completed the ATTP program, as this program trains therapists in a team approach to care.