Turning when walking

Stiffness and slowness of movement are common symptoms in Parkinson’s. Often they will affect one side of the body more than the other. 

Anyone who has sat in one position for a long time will feel stiff and find their movements are slower when they first move, especially if the action involves turning.  

When you have Parkinson’s, this can happen while making everyday movements, including walking. This is because a level of speed is needed to start moving or to keep a movement going. If you have to twist your body as part of the movement, this can make it even harder to move. 

Why might I find it difficult to change direction when walking?

Over time, the length of your steps may become smaller when you are moving about. The muscles around your hips and up your spine can also become weaker and stiffer. 

This can affect how well you can control and move your upper body, particularly if you’re turning. This is because when you turn, your head, body and legs are all twisted relative to one another. This needs more balance to achieve the movement.

If you are doing something else as you walk, such as talking or carrying an object, you may notice you shuffle more as you turn, especially if your feet are too close together at the start of the movement. 

Freezing as you walk is a common symptom of Parkinson’s and can stop you from turning while you walk. If you experience freezing you may find it hard to start walking, or come to a halt for several seconds or minutes as you are moving forward. You might feel like your lower half is stuck yet the top half of your body is still able to move. Sometimes this can lead to you falling. You need to focus more on turning safely if this happens to you.

Not everyone with Parkinson’s will have problems turning when they walk. It may only be an issue if you experience "off" periods, such as when your medication is not working fully, or at night when you're more tired and stiff. 

How can I turn more easily when I walk?

• Think about the way you are turning. Imagine your feet following two curved tracks going in the direction and at the angle you want to turn. 

• Make sure that your foot on the side you are turning towards takes a smaller step than the other foot. You will need to take a larger step with your other foot, so this foot keeps coming forward, level with the inner foot as you are turning. 

  This is more important if you have a "Parkinson’s side" (where one side of your body is more affected by the condition than the other). It will make turning in the opposite direction harder as the Parkinson’s side will naturally take smaller steps, but will be the outside foot. Your focus is on taking even bigger steps each time you move forward into the turn so the outside leg doesn’t lag behind.

• Avoid pivoting round on your toes if you have poor balance when moving. Instead, imagine a larger circle to walk round than a small circle. 
• Some people prefer to visualise an object, like the face of a clock, and imagine they are stood in the middle of it. Your feet form the hands of the clock and each step turns into the next number round on the clock face until you are facing the direction you need.  If you find it difficult to visualise something, you could try putting masking or electrical tape on the floor. Space it just under a foot length apart so you can follow the angle of the turn. As you walk into the turn, use the taped markers as a cue for where to place your feet and let them guide you into the turn. One to three strips is usually enough for a good turn.
• Alternatively, you may find it more helpful to step into a turn using the rhythm of a piece of music, a metronome beat or by counting out loud. 

A physiotherapist or occupational therapist can visit you at home and help you choose which method will work best for you. 

Read more about physiotherapy and occupational therapy.