PARKINSON'S

Exercise has been proven to play a crucial role in maintaining quality of life for people with Parkinson's disease. 

Strength training, stretching, range-of-motion exercises, and other forms of physical activity can all help a Parkinson's patient maintain mobility, dexterity, and balance.

And exercise plays a role in helping patients to stay in a positive and happy frame of mind — especially since depression is a common issue for Parkinson’s disease patients.

Parkinson’s Disease: Research on Benefits of Exercise

Before there was medication to treat Parkinson’s disease, there was exercise — doctors used motion therapy and physical activity to help patients manage their symptoms.

Recent research has shown that Parkinson's patients who exercise regularly often see an improvement in balance and posture and have an easier time managing daily activities. In animal models, researchers showed that exercise can restore function lost to the disease.

Parkinson’s Disease: Developing an Exercise Program

A person with Parkinson's disease should enter into an exercise plan with the help of a physical therapist. By evaluating your particular needs, these professionals can craft a plan that is both safe and effective. The exercise program they develop might focus on:

·         Joint or muscle pain that interferes with your daily life

·         Problems with mobility or walking

·         Difficulties with balance

·         Issues involving daily chores such as eating, dressing, bathing, and handwriting

A physical therapist also can teach your caregiver how your body functions and give him tips about how to assist you with in-home exercises and daily tasks.

Parkinson's Disease: Exercises

Doctors have figured out that certain types of exercise can have a positive impact on people with Parkinson's disease. These include:

·         Stretching. Simple stretches can help keep your body limber and mobile. They can also be performed just about anywhere, even in bed. Be sure to stretch throughout the day, whenever you have down time. Perform each exercise three times, holding the stretch for three to five full breaths.

·         Strength training. Strengthening your muscles can help you stand straighter and improve your day-to-day coordination. These exercises also help make bones stronger and more resistant to fracture in case of a fall. Research has found that high-intensity strength training can build muscle mass in Parkinson's disease patients and improve their walking speed, ability to climb stairs, and overall balance. You can perform strength training exercises at home with light weights or even use your own body weight for resistance. Strength training with heavier weights should be done in the presence of a trainer or physical therapist.

·         Aerobic conditioning. These exercises help Parkinson's patients to maintain overall health by strengthening the heart and lungs and improving stamina and endurance. Walking, biking, dancing, and swimming are all examples of aerobic exercise. Your goal should be to complete at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week. Just be sure to talk with your doctor before embarking on a new aerobic exercise program.

·         Aquatic exercise. Exercises performed in a warm pool can be extremely beneficial for Parkinson's disease patients. The water's buoyancy provides support to weak muscles, improving posture and balance, and allowing you to move freely without the risk of falling. The water also offers multidirectional resistance that can provide strength and endurance training even with gentle movements. Researchers have found that aquatic exercise can promote better range of motion, improvement in muscle tone, and a reduction in stiffness and pain.

Range-of-motion therapy. These exercises are recommended to help a Parkinson's disease patient maintain flexibility and mobility. Range-of-motion exercises require the patient to move his limbs in a full  range, working the muscles and joints. If the patient already has lost some flexibility, a physical therapist or a range-of-motion machine can be used to help the patient perform these exercises.

For many people living with Parkinson's, exercise can prevent the loss of independence that comes with progressive mobility problems. Parkinson's disease doesn't have to leave you feeling confined and unable to enjoy daily activities; adopting an activity program is a great way to restore strength to your muscles, and it's something you can start today.

Exercise clearly impacts Parkinson's disease so that people with this condition experience a better quality of life. So let's get moving and get our older adults moving with us. Caretakers and patients together improving and enjoying their lives together. 

So let's Get Up Get Moving and remember,

"CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT"