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Ray Kemble avatar

Gait therapists, where are you?

Neuropathy | Last Active: Dec 30, 2025 | Replies (17)

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Profile picture for v8auto @v8auto

It's annoying, having consciously to control what used to be automatic.

Awareness that one is wobbling and wibbling is the first step, so to speak.
In the end, only you can control your gait. No therapist can do that for you.

What gets me is the premature fatigue that sets in if I walk too far, or what my legs seems to regard as too far. The lower legs eventually go on a sit-down strike. Some degree of regular exercise, I mean muscle-building exercise, may help but it seems to me that the nerves just stop transmitting

In terms of gait, I find I walk better if I straighten my legs each stride, a strut almost, and plant my feet firmly. So I put the foot down and then as the leg moves to the vertical, I straighten it, push back against the knee joint.
The opposite, the bent knees, worked for Groucho Marx of course.

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Replies to "It's annoying, having consciously to control what used to be automatic. Awareness that one is wobbling..."

Hello, v8auto (@v8auto)

There's much truth in what you say. My gait improves the moment I begin "talking" to mt body parts: my feet, my knees, my legs, hips, etc. Deliberate attention is the ticket. Only this morning I was able to re-prove that to myself. I had my weekly PT session. The therapist and I went outdoors to practice waling on different surfaces, from the very rough to the perfectly smooth. The moment I'd begin to wobble (and/or wibble; I like that expression!), I would deliberately (although silently) begin to talk with my body parts: "Come on, knees, do you job! Feet, pick 'em up, don't shuffle! Legs, don't be shy, swing out and reach for stable ground!" I know this sounds silly, but "talking" to my body parts most definitely has a positive effect on my gait.

Happy holidays!
Ray (@ray666)