Parkinson’s Disease

1.  it’s considered to be a Neuropathology disease, as it affects the nervous system.
2. It’s symptoms consist of  tremors throughout the body, stiffness of limbs and back, slowness of movements, and reduction in stability and coordination. (Balestrino and Schapira, 2019)

3. There are pills that can be prescribed, but we’re most definitely not M.D.s so we will not be discussing those, check with your doctor for more details. 
4. Recent research shows that a way to slow Parkinson’s is through movement (Earhart and Falvo, 2013, Mak et al., 2017, Ahlskog, 2011). Logically thinking of it, Parkinson’s have a negative effect on movements, so treating it can be done by moving the body and having the brain grab a hold of the organs and not the other way around.

•  Since we’ve discussed Parkinson’s effect on stability, one of the things you would want to do, is work on that, either by lifting a leg up and balance yourself on a single leg (make sure to have a safety bar near you), or by standing on uneven surfaces (pillows, towels, blankets, Bosu, etc.) There are many ways to work your balance, however always make sure it is done safely.

• It has also been shown, that raising the heart rate and incorporating aerobic exercise to the training routine has a positive effect on the patient, and so riding a stationary bike, or rowing on a rowing machine are great exercises to include in the training routine (Benevides et al., 2024) .

• Challenge more than one muscle group at a given time. Aiming to perform complex exercises, containing more than one or two joints, would help with coordination. Don’t be afraid to try some more complex exercises once you get a hold of the basics, practice makes perfect.

• Core involving movements would improve the overall body stability and help build a strong base for future activity, don’t look for close range machine motions, search for open range exercises to involve as many core muscle as possible (Zemková and Zapletalová, 2022) .

• Stiffness of muscles can really have an effect on the training routine, you might want to consider manually moving the operating parts of the body prior to actually doing the activity, and add a stretch at the end of each exercise to maintain as much range of motion as you can. Great methods for a bigger range of motion on spot are PNF and MET. Do not perform those unsupervised or without knowledge of use, as they might cause harm.

• In addition to the above, seeing a manual therapist occasionally can also reduce muscle stiffness and promote better performance during exercise routines. 

• According to Ellis et al. (2013) low outcome expectations, fear of falling and lack of time to exercise are the leading reasons why people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease do not take part of any exercise routine, make sure to explain the process and reassure them that it is beneficial and safe to train, while planning the routine to fit their daily schedule.

To the best of our knowledge, Parkinson’s does not have restrictions when engaging training. If the program is progressing gradually, covering the basics and building on top of those, it is a safe to use and incorporate exercise routine.

Always make sure to train in a safe environment that can support your needs, and corresponds with part 7 of the Do’s.