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barbmp39 Asked December 15, 2023

i fall backwards when i fall usuall 3 to 4 times a year does anyone else have this type of fall?

Evamar Dec 15, 2023
According to my husband’s neurologist person with Parkinson’s tends to lean forward and they fall forward more than backwards. That is the reason they check at quarterly appointments many things because often PD turns into something else.
Atypical Parkinsonism is characterized often by leaning backward and falling backwards.
Of course this is one opinion and needs to be checked by specialists.
NeedHelpWithMom Dec 15, 2023
My mother’s physical and occupational therapist said the opposite of what your husband’s neurologist said.

They said that they saw Parkinson’s patients falling backwards more than falling forward.

My mother fell forward and backwards. She told me that her brain sent the signal to move but her body couldn’t follow the signals. I saw her freeze up quite a bit.

PT and OT worked on building her strength and also on improving her ability to balance.

I was amazed at what they were able to accomplish with my mom. Mom worked really hard in rehab and home health.

She never ended up in a wheelchair. She did rely on her walker. She wasn’t bed bound until the very end of her life in her hospice care home.

Neurological disorders are complex and challenging.
lealonnie1 Dec 15, 2023
When you posted a question in June about falling backwards and asking about what shoes might help you, you received 14 answers. Have you gone to the doctor to get checked for Parkinson's disease and/or brain disorders which could cause this issue, as recommended? As I had said, my mother fell backwards a lot but did not have Parkinson's. She did suffer from neuropathy and dementia, however, and had had several strokes and bad vertigo.

Go to the doctor for a full physical and cognitive exam.

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NeedHelpWithMom Dec 15, 2023
My mother had Parkinson’s and she tended to fall backwards. Tell your doctor that these falls are occurring.

Wishing you all the best.

AlvaDeer Dec 15, 2023
It's called "retropulsion" and is very common in many many aging disorders.

This is something for you to discuss with your doctor and ask both for a PT consult and for neuro-psyc consult. This sort of falling in a particular direction often has to do with some weakness in a particular area of the brain. You want good medical diagnosis now, not the opinions of a bunch of gals and guys on an international Forum. We can only GUESS and will be guessing out of our own experiences. See an expert when you need expert advice and I hope you will update us with what you find out.

Best to you. I am 81 and sympathize. Balance is a BUG for us. No question about it.
Geaton777 Dec 15, 2023
Thanks for this insight, Alva. I googled "retropulsion" and a ton of results came up connected to Parkinsons...
Grandma1954 Dec 15, 2023
Falling backwards is something that someone with Parkinson's would do. Most people typically fall forward.
You might want to have your doctor refer you to a neurologist or at least begin testing to figure out why you fall backwards.

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