Question on Balance

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2006 at 8:37 pm

      I know this is off topic but I was just wondering anybody recovering from CIDP or GBS how did you learn to get your balance back when learning to walk.
      My Dad is slowly recovering from maybe more then 1 stroke and my brother thinks if he had balance it would help. Also my Dad told me tonight he has abit of feeling in his right foot but not enough to feel it when trying to walk. He is paralize on his right side only.He does not have foot drop but I sometimes wonder if he had a leg brace of some kind it may help his leg to be more straight then bullegged(sp?).
      My Dad right now has a regular cane to help him walk he doesn’t like the quad cane.

      Thanks everyone in advance

      Sue

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2006 at 9:40 pm

      hi sue,

      good ques. i never recall doing anything directly to get my balance back. it just seemed to get better w time. some of it must have been as the nerves healed they worked the muscles better which helped give better balance. take care. be well.

      gene gbs 8-99
      in numbers there is strength

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2006 at 9:48 pm

      Thanks Gene 🙂

      Sue

    • Anonymous
      October 17, 2006 at 10:18 pm

      Sue,

      I don’t know if this is appropriate for your father, but the things that my physical therapist told me to do to improve my balance were as follows.

      The easiest one is to stand in front of the kitchen counter (or something else of about the same height), facing the counter, and barefoot. Don’t hold onto anything. Put your arms out to your sides and parallel to the floor. Raise one foot off of the floor, and hold the position for 30 seconds. Put that foot down and repeat with the other foot raised. The counter is there in case you need something to grab, if you feel like falling.

      Another exercise is to get a large, thick, and very firm pillow and stand on it. It’s ok to wear shoes for this one. Lift one foot off the pillow and stand on the other foot for a count of 10. Then change feet and repeat. This one should be done with someone standing beside you, so if you lose your balance, they can keep you from falling.

      A third one is to sit on a large exercise ball (the size of the ball depends upon your height and weight, but, in general, when you sit on the fully inflated ball, your thighs should be parallel with the ground, and knees at the same height as your hips). Then raise one foot up until the leg is fully outstreached and parallel to the ground. Hope this position for a count of ten. Repeat with each leg. The amount of time you can do this should increase with practice. It sounds easy, but it’s not when your balance is poor.

      These should be done in sets of 3x each, until they are mastered, then you may increase the number of sets. The exercises help with balance and also help to strengthen the legs.

      I don’t know how strong your father is at this point, so these may be too difficult for him. Check with the physical therapist, or if he doesn’t have one,
      maybe try the first one and see how he does.

      I hope this helps. Best wishes for your father’s quick recovery.

      Suzanne

    • Anonymous
      October 18, 2006 at 7:19 am

      Thank You Suzanne these exercise are to much for him now but I will copy and paste this imformation for when he improves more.

      Sue