Summary
A recent episode of Movers and Shakers focuses on the challenges of falling for individuals living with Parkinson's disease and explores practical solutions to mitigate these risks. The discussion features Paul Mayheward, who shares his personal experiences with frequent falls, including a humorous anecdote about playing with his grandchildren and falling during a bus ride. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing limitations and the need for ongoing support and exercises to maintain mobility.
The episode introduces a new app called Wobble, designed by physiotherapist Niamh Buttle, aimed at improving balance and strength for those at risk of falling. Buttle highlights the lack of long-term physiotherapy options available for patients with neurological conditions and stresses the importance of regular exercise tailored to individual capabilities. The app includes assessments to track progress and encourages users to engage in exercises that mimic real-life movements, thereby enhancing their functional abilities.
Additionally, the conversation touches on the broader issue of environmental safety for individuals with Parkinson's. A guest named John Granahan shares his struggle to secure funding for home modifications to prevent falls, illustrating the challenges posed by a fragmented support system. The episode concludes with a call for greater awareness and advocacy for accessible resources to help individuals manage their condition and maintain their independence.
Show Notes
We've spoken about falls, so we thought we'd find out how to prevent them. This week, we're joined by the physiotherapist Niamh Buttle, who is also the co-founder of Wobble, an app designed to improve mobility, strength and balance, which we're pretty keen on trying. We also hear from fellow Parky, John Granahan, who shared with us how he is adapting his home, thanks to a grant, to make it 'fall'-proof. This episode features lots of wise words on how we might stop our falls; now, if we could only get over our Parky apathy and get training..
Movers and Shakers listeners get 50% off a year of Wobble, until 31st December. Just open the link on the phone or tablet you’ll use it on.
iPhone and iPad: https://apps.apple.com/redeem?ctx=offercodes&id=6749583215&code=SHAKERS
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wobblebalance.app
Any questions, email the Wobble team at [email protected]
Movers & Shakers is brought to you in partnership with Cure Parkinson's.
Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman. Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Associate Producers: Lulu Goad & Ewan Cameron Music by Alex Stobbs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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