How to Overcome Night-Time Freezing in Parkinson’s: Practical Bed Mobility Tips with Snoozle Slide Sheet

Why Night-Time Freezing Happens in Parkinson’s

With Parkinson’s, the brain has difficulty sending smooth, timely signals to the muscles. At night, when medication may be wearing off and the body is cold and still, this can lead to increased stiffness and “freezing” of movement.

Freezing means you want to move, but your body will not start or continue the movement. In bed, this often shows up as feeling glued to the mattress when you try to turn or sit up.

Because the muscles are rigid, any attempt to roll in one big effort can cause pain, cramping, or a sudden stop in the movement. Repeated, forceful attempts can leave you exhausted, sore, and wide awake.

What Commonly Goes Wrong When Turning in Bed

Understanding the typical problems helps you correct them.

• Trying to roll in one big movement: This demands too much coordination and power at once, which often triggers freezing.
• Keeping legs straight and stiff: Straight legs increase strain on your back and make it harder to start the roll.
• Pushing straight up against friction: Dragging your body across the mattress makes movement heavier and more tiring.
• Moving too fast or when anxious: Rushing or panicking can worsen freezing and throw you off balance.

The goal is to replace these habits with smaller, easier movements that your body can manage, and to reduce friction so you are sliding rather than dragging.

Before You Move: Simple Set-Up to Reduce Freezing

Before you attempt to turn or get up, take a moment to prepare.

• Check your position: Make sure your head is supported and your shoulders are not jammed up towards your ears.
• Loosen up gently: Take 3–5 slow breaths. If possible, wiggle your fingers and toes or gently rock your knees side to side to signal movement to your body.
• Plan your direction: Decide which side you are turning towards before you start. This reduces hesitation mid-movement.
• Use the Snoozle Slide Sheet: If you have one, position it under your hips and trunk before bedtime so it is already in place when you need to move.

Step-by-Step: Turning in Bed with Parkinson’s

These steps are designed to break the movement into manageable parts and use gravity instead of force.

Step 1: Bend Your Knees to find Your Hips

When legs are straight, your back and hips are locked, making rolling much harder.

• Slide one heel, then the other, up towards your bottom until both feet are flat on the mattress.
• If freezing makes this difficult, start with tiny heel slides or ask a helper to gently guide your heels (without lifting your legs).
• Keep your knees about hip-width apart so you feel stable.

Step 2: Position Your Arms to Start the Roll

Your arms help initiate the turn so your trunk does not have to do all the work.

• Decide which side you want to roll towards (for example, to the right).
• Reach your left arm across your body towards the right side of the bed, chest, or bed rail.
• Your right arm can press gently into the mattress to help push your upper body.

Step 3: Roll Your Shoulders First (Upper Body)

Trying to move shoulders and hips together can trigger freezing. Separate them.

• Use the reaching arm to gently pull and let your shoulders begin to roll towards the chosen side.
• Think: “Shoulders first, hips later.” Do not worry yet about your legs or pelvis.
• Pause for a breath once your upper body has turned slightly. This pause can help release a freeze.

Step 4: Bring Your Hips Over in a Second Stage

Once your shoulders have started the roll, your hips can follow more easily.

• Press your feet gently into the mattress, as if you are trying to slide your bottom sideways.
• Let your knees fall together in the direction you are rolling.
• Allow your hips to glide across the Snoozle Slide Sheet rather than lifting them.
• If you feel stuck, stop, breathe, and then try a smaller push with your feet.

Step 5: Adjust Your Final Position

Once you are on your side, make small adjustments for comfort.

• Use tiny slides of your shoulders or hips on the Snoozle to straighten yourself.
• Place a pillow between your knees if hip or knee pain is an issue.
• Check that your head and neck are in line with your spine.

Using Snoozle Slide Sheet to Make Turning Easier

The Snoozle Slide Sheet is a low-friction fabric that reduces resistance between your body and the mattress. It is designed for sliding and repositioning in bed only, not for lifting or transferring out of bed.

How to Position the Snoozle

• Place the Snoozle on top of your regular sheet, roughly from your shoulders to your thighs.
• Lie down so your trunk and hips are centered on the Snoozle.
• Ensure the edges are flat and not bunched up to reduce the risk of slipping when you sit up.

How Snoozle Helps During Freezing Episodes

• When you push with your feet or arms, your body can glide instead of dragging, so less effort is needed.
• Small, gentle pushes are more likely to succeed, helping you break through a freeze without jerking or straining.
• Because you are sliding rather than lifting, there is less load on stiff joints and muscles.

Remember: Snoozle is not a lifting device. It should not be used to pull someone up into sitting or standing, and it is not for moving between bed and chair.

Getting Out of Bed with Less Strain and Freezing

Getting out of bed is often hardest when you are stiff, tired, or rushing to the toilet. These steps focus on safety and control.

Step 1: Turn Onto Your Side First

• Use the turning steps above to roll onto the side you usually get out of bed from.
• Bring your knees slightly towards your chest so your feet are near the edge of the mattress.

Step 2: Slide Your Hips Closer to the Edge

• Use small pushes with your feet and gentle pressure through your top arm to slide your hips towards the edge.
• The Snoozle Slide Sheet can help your hips move sideways with less effort.
• Stop before you feel unstable; your trunk should still be well supported on the mattress.

Step 3: Lower Your Legs Down Slowly

• Let your lower legs and feet gently swing off the edge of the bed.
• Do not let your legs drop quickly; a controlled movement reduces dizziness and freezing.
• Keep your knees slightly bent as your feet find the floor.

Step 4: Push Up into Sitting Using Your Arms

• Place your lower arm (the one against the mattress) in front of your chest or slightly out to the side.
• Press through both arms and let your legs act as a counterweight as they drop, helping you pivot up into sitting.
• Slide your bottom slightly back on the mattress if you feel too close to the edge.

Step 5: Pause Before Standing

• Sit for 10–20 seconds with both feet flat on the floor.
• Take a few slow breaths and check for dizziness or a sense of freezing.
• Only stand when you feel steady. If you often freeze on standing, consider using a stable support (like a bed rail or sturdy piece of furniture) and discuss strategies with your therapist.

How These Techniques Can Affect Pain, Fatigue, and Sleep

By breaking movements into smaller stages and reducing friction with a Snoozle Slide Sheet, you place less stress on stiff muscles and joints.

This can mean:

• Fewer painful, forceful efforts to turn.
• Less muscle fatigue from repeated attempts to move.
• Shorter awakenings at night because you can reposition more quickly and calmly.

While these strategies do not cure Parkinson’s or stop freezing completely, they can make night-time movements more manageable and support better rest.

Safety Tips for Night-Time Bed Mobility

• No lifting: Do not try to lift your hips or whole body off the bed. Focus on sliding and rolling.
• Avoid dangling: Do not sit on the edge of the bed with your body far forward and feet not well placed; this increases fall risk.
• Use stable supports: If you use a bed rail or bedside furniture, make sure it is firmly fixed and not likely to tip.
• Keep the floor clear: Remove loose rugs, cords, or clutter near the bed to reduce tripping if you need to stand.
• Know your limits: If you feel unsafe or very unsteady, ask for help rather than pushing through.

When Snoozle Slide Sheet Is Especially Helpful

Snoozle can be particularly useful in certain situations:

• When you wake up very stiff and struggle to start a roll.
• When repeated attempts to turn leave you breathless or in more pain.
• When a caregiver finds it hard to help you reposition without straining their own back.
• When you want to adjust your position slightly (for example, sliding your hips up or down the bed) without sitting up fully.

Used correctly, Snoozle supports low-friction, in-bed repositioning and can complement the movement strategies you already use.

Working with Your Healthcare Team

Everyone with Parkinson’s is different. Medication timing, other health conditions, and your home set-up all affect night-time mobility.

A physiotherapist or occupational therapist can:

• Tailor these steps to your strength, flexibility, and bed height.
• Suggest equipment such as bed rails, raised beds, or appropriate mattresses.
• Teach your partner or caregiver safe ways to assist without lifting.

Share any new freezing patterns or falls with your Parkinson’s team so they can review your treatment plan.

Related comfort guides

• Effortless Bed Mobility for MS: Using Momentum and Snoozle to Move Without Pain or Fatigue
• Effortless Bed Mobility for Those Living Alone with Pain and Low Energy: Practical Bedroom Planning and Movement Strategies
• Effortless Bed Mobility with Knee Osteoarthritis: How to Move and Get Up Without Aggravating Pain