Falls

There are few great anxiety inducers for Parkies than the prospect of having a fall. Squeezed into the Notting Hill pub – having dodged bustling waiters, stray chair legs and a labyrinthine tangle of cables – the Movers & Shakers are joined by two experts, Laura Douglas from Neuro Heroes and the University of Exeter's Dr Will Young, to discuss the reality of falls. Are people with Parkinson's at greater risk? And, if so, what can we do to a) prevent falls, and b) mitigate the seriousness? Navigating our way, ever so carefully, through this issue should shine a light on how to stay safe and help your loved ones.

A note for listeners: Will Young and his team are currently running a research project looking at the psychological impact of various potential symptoms of Parkinson's. The aim is to validate a new questionnaire (the Lo-Co-Motion) that could be used as part of training/therapies for managing symptoms and any associated anxiety. This is an online survey that takes about 30-50 minutes. Further information and the online survey can be found here.

Each week, Rory Cellan-Jones guides us between the laughs and moans in the pub. To read Rory's summary of this week's episode, click here.

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Guest Biographies

Laura Douglas

[Photo Credit: Neuro Heroes]

Laura is a Neurological Physiotherapist working at Neuro Heroes, the UK's first online Neurological gym, which she founded alongside fellow Neuro Physiotherapist Anna Kharin in 2020. Laura specialises in MS, Gait rehabilitation and orthotics.

Dr Will Young

[Photo Credit: Exeter University]

Dr Will Young is an Associate Professor in Rehabilitation Psychology at the University of Exeter. His research relates to the topic of falls prediction and prevention, both in older adults and people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's. He has a particular interest in examining how anxiety (about falling) can influence the control of balance/walking.

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