Mobility

• Ask a physical therapist to adjust the cane height specific to your height and needs.
• Get a straight cane with a rubber tip. Avoid tripod or quad canes (those with three- or four-point bases). People with PD tend to have difficulty using these canes – they provide less stability because not all points touch the ground at the same time.
• Hand grips should be comfortable.
• Adjust the cane height for best support.
• Hiking sticks or poles are also helpful and can help maintain better posture while walking. Consult a physical therapist to determine whether these devices are safe for you.
• Some companies such as In-Step make a laser cane, where a laser line is projected in front of you.
• For some individuals, having a cane with a triangular rubber tip may be more stable than a standard rubber tip and is easy to put down correctly.

• Use a walker with four wheels for better stability and to make turning easier.
• Special walker features such as large wheels, swivel casters and hand brakes offer the most stability.
• Walkers with built-in seats and baskets can be especially helpful.
• Avoid four-post walkers or standard walkers — picking up the walker to advance it can cause a backward loss of balance.
• Rollz Motion Rhythm is a stable Parkinson’s rollator walker with laser, sound and vibration cues to help overcome freezing episodes or gait disturbance. It can be transformed into a wheelchair for increased mobility.
• Nexstride is an adaptable laser that projects a green laser line that can be used with any walker to help with freezing of gait. This is purchased separately, and attached to the walker, cane or hiking stick/pole.

Schedule an appointment with your occupational or physical therapist to find out which chair best meets your needs. As PD advances, a wheelchair may become a necessity. It is important to know what to look for when picking a wheelchair, and who on your care team can help you make this decision.

• For only occasional use of a wheelchair for longer distances or travel, try to pick a lightweight wheelchair. Lighter chairs are easier to lift in and out of the car.
• For more frequent use around the home and in the community, you may consider choosing a wheelchair with more features, such as a reclining chair back, elevating leg rests, seat elevation, and a pressure relieving cushion. These may assist in making posture changes, preventing pressures sores, help with fluctuating blood pressure or need to rest during the day.

Check with your insurance company to learn about services covered by your plan. Not all wheelchairs may be covered by insurance.