Getting started
Saying the movement and counting it through gives the first step a cue to hang on: from a chair, from the bed, in a doorway, at a kerb.
Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s: rhythm and counting for the movements that have gone small
Parkinson’s makes movement smaller, slower and harder to start. Conductive Education uses rhythm, counting and big deliberate movement to work on exactly that, in your own home, around your own day.
What we practise together
The moments that catch people out
Turning
Turning in bed, turning on the spot in the kitchen, turning to sit. Broken into counted steps so it stops being one big effort.
Standing up and sitting down
Feet flat, lean forward, push up, stand tall. The most-used movement of the day, practised step by step with the count.
Walking
Big steps, arm swing, a rhythm to walk to. We practise in the rooms and corridors you actually use.
Hands and handwriting
Large, deliberate movements for buttons, cutlery, a cup, a signature. Handwriting that has shrunk can be worked on like any other task.
Posture and voice in the same breath
Sitting and standing tall, breathing out on the count. Speaking the intention out loud is part of the method, not an extra.
A typical hour
We start with a short set of movements lying down or sitting, each one said out loud and counted, to loosen up and get the rhythm going. Then a standing set: weight from foot to foot, reaching, turning. Then walking with counting, and one task from your own day: the stairs, the front step, getting into the car. You finish with two or three things to practise between visits, written down in the same words we used.
We plan sessions around the times your medication works best for you, and we’ll ask about that at the first visit. We don’t give advice about medication itself; that stays with your GP and Parkinson’s nurse.
Alongside what you already do
If you go to a Parkinson’s UK branch, an exercise class or a singing group, keep going. Conductive Education adds the counted, deliberate practice of everyday movement; it doesn’t replace them. Branches and groups can also book us for a group session, and can often apply for a grant to fund it.
Partners are welcome in every session and usually end up counting along. That’s the point: the words and rhythm carry on when we’re not there.
We visit people with Parkinson’s at home across Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Stourbridge, Birmingham and the surrounding area.
Before you get in touch
Questions people ask
Is this exercise?
Partly. It’s mainly learning: planning a movement, saying it, and counting it through so that it starts and finishes on purpose. That’s different from building fitness, and it sits well alongside an exercise class.
I was diagnosed years ago. Is it too late?
No. People come to Conductive Education at every stage. Everyone is different and we can’t promise particular results, but there’s usually something in the day worth working on, and we’ll be honest about what is realistic.
How often would you come?
Weekly to begin with, with a review together after about eight weeks. Some people move to fortnightly with an online check-in in between.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can contact us yourself. With your permission we’ll share your goals with your GP, Parkinson’s nurse or NHS team so everyone is pulling the same way.
Is it safe if my balance is poor?
Everything is built around what you can do safely, with the right support and furniture, and we ask about your health and any advice from your NHS team before we start. If you have new or worsening symptoms, speak to your GP first.
Start with a free phone chat
Fifteen minutes to talk about the moments that catch you out, and what you’d like to be able to do. No obligation.