Internal cues

In internal cueing, self-generated stimuli are used to improve walking. These stimuli are often rhythmic. The difference with external cues is that the stimuli are not imposed from outside (eg. listening to music), but that you create them yourself (eg. hum a song yourself).

Internal cues often help to focus on a specific element of the gait (e.g. landing on your heels), thus helping to make gait more purposeful. Often the autopilot of walking is disturbed in Parkinson's disease. In this way the affected autopilot is ‘bypassed’.

Examples of internal cues

Below you will find a number of examples of internal cues, which you may want to try out yourself - or together with your therapist. The internal cues page also offers videos of people who successfully apply various internal cues to improve walking.

• Count – out loud or in your mind – and take a step on each count

• Countdown – out loud or in your mind – before starting to walk

• Sing or hum and walk to the beat

• Repeat "heel-toe-heel-toe" or "step-step" - out loud or in your mind - every time you put your heel on the floor

• Rhythmically snap your fingers or tap your leg while walking

• Consciously focus on making big strides

• Consciously focus on walking upright (for example: focus your gaze on a fixed point on the horizon)

• Touch the temples

• Stretch the back or leg muscles before starting to walk

Do you have anything to add?

Are you using an internal cue that is not yet included in our overview? We'd appreciate it if you would submit your compensation strategy so that other people can benefit from your creative find!

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Patient care Conditions Walking with Parkinson Internal cues

Internal cues

In internal cueing, self-generated stimuli are used to improve walking. These stimuli are often rhythmic.

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Are you using a compensation strategy that has not been included in our video overview? Please do share your idea. Your video might be on this page too!

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Video examples

Touching the temples

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Touching the temples

This man noticed that he could walk more easily when he touches his temples with his fingers.

Counting

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Counting

Tellen

Counting can be used in several ways to improve walking:

  1. Use counting to start walking, for example by counting down ("3-2-1-GO!")
  2. Use the counting to support your rhythm. Count in a rhythmic way (for example: 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4), and try to take a step on each beat. Most people count to 4 (as if you're marching), but others prefer to count to 2 or 8. Try out which rhythm works best for you.

Instead of counting, you can also sing or hum a song and step on that beat. You can do this in your mind, or out loud: one might work better for you than the other.