A new study from Rhode Island Hospital indicates that spinal cord stimulation may be able to modulate Parkinson's

disease Symptoms Ming Cheng, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Rhode Island Hospital and the lead author on an abstract called "Outcome of Spinal Cord Stimulation." Other studies previously found motor function improvement with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in an animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD). The findings from these studies prompted the researchers to test SCS on a single 82year-old male with PD. Cheng, who is also an assistant professor of neurosurgery at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, worked with colleagues at Brown to implant the SCS system and then test the effects at multiple frequencies while the patient was off medication. "Our study shows no changes in pain assessment to control for reduction in pain as the reason for motor improvement," says Cheng. "What we did find is that lowfrequency SCS produced a readily apparent and statistically significant worsening of Parkinson's disease symptoms." Cheng, who is also a physician with the Neurosurgery Foundation, Inc., continues, "These findings and locomotion 'walking time' were reversed at high stimulation frequencies

Posture and Sitting 1. To stand with a long spine: Stand with your heels dollar width apart, weight in the middle of the foot, toes slightly Ved, look at your ankles; keep your body in that shape and bring your face to vertical. 2. Reach up, as if to place luggage on the shelf, let your back elongate as you reach, reach, REACH! 3. To Prepare for Sitting: Stand with your heels two dollar widths apart. Lightly feel the chair with the back of your legs, you know its there!! 4. Now hinge at the hips, keeping the spine long; Slide your fig leaf area under and back. Bend your knees and reach for sides of the chair. 5. To practice elongation of the spine sitting: Use your built-in muscle corset ( in French Corselet- more elegant! ). Press down on your thighs as your engage your trunk muscles front and back to go UP-UP-UP! Keep that length in your spine.

6. Now sitting with an elongated spine bring your chin slightly to your throat, back the back of your neck back and up. With your face vertical, you can pop your mouth open for a blueberry! Parkinsons affects control of automatic activities. Posture changes may occur without the brains automatic reminders to stand up straight. These changes may include forward head, stopped/rounded shoulders, decreased low back curve and/or forward lean. Muscle stiffness/rigidity can also contribute to changing posture. You may notice that your posture changes when you have been in one position too long, when medications arent working as well, or if you are concentrating on another activity (like walking or working at the computer). Why is it important to monitor your posture? Neck or back pain can occur when natural spinal curves are out of alignment Stooped posture reduces eye contact and the ability to take a deep breath, affecting communication skills Loss of flexibility from changing posture causes difficulty when raising arms overhead, rising from a chair, etc. Do a posture check! Press body up against wall with heels 6 away Tuck chin and press head flat; (Feel crown of head lift; look straight ahead) Pull in stomach muscles, bringing low back closer to wall Lift chest bringing shoulders back and down Walk away and try to maintain this position Perform periodically throughout the day (or lie down and press body flat into the floor using steps described above) Use a mirror or photographs to check posture (both front and side views) Maintaining good posture: Be aware of posture changes: try to catch yourself when stooping or leaning and take action to make corrections Remember to change position often. Take movement breaks! Support curve in low back with roll or back cushion

Perform simple posture exercises/stretches throughout the day Involving Your Team: Seek a physical therapy referral for specific posture recommendations and treatment Consider Yoga or Tai Chi classes Obtain a back (lumbar) or neck (cervical) rolls or cushions for better postural alignment needs.