Parkinson’s Throwing Off Your Balance? Keep Your Eye on the Ball

Balance is a complex process that relies on many systems working together in the body. When you walk, you naturally turn your head, use your eyes and ears, and gain information from your feet so that your brain understands where you are in space. This awareness is called proprioception.

When someone is afraid of falling, they may start looking down at the ground to watch for obstacles. While this feels safer, consistently looking down actually increases the risk of falling by limiting visual awareness and disrupting natural balance responses.

Here is a great exercise that will really wake up your brain and heighten your awareness while challenging your balance. Make sure you do this exercise in a corner for safety:

Neck mobility and trunk rotation also play an important role in balance. Being able to look up, turn your head, and scan your surroundings helps your brain process spatial information.

The hand-eye exercise shown in this video is designed to improve walking balance, encourage a more upright posture, and reduce the habit of looking at the ground while walking—especially for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Want even more exercises to improve your balance? Join our Balance Builders Course! It’s a five-week course that you can do in person or virtually. Classes are held once a week, and you’ll also get recorded videos that you can do at home. For more information, email Kimberly.

We also offer specialty digital courses to address a variety of Parkinson’s symptoms, including stooped posture and stiff hands and feet:

• Rebel Fit Club Posture School
• Rebel Fit Club’s “From Cramping Feet to Happy Feet!” Course
• Rebel Fit Club’s PD Exercises to Improve Hand Dexterity & Mobility

💜 Coach Kimberly