Parkinson's Disease Tulip


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Old 06-18-2015, 10:15 AM #1
lobo lobo is offline
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lobo lobo is offline
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Default Physical therapy, exercise or sports?

To my surprise I read the other day from a physical therapist that swimming, except for good cardio benefits, is not as good as I thought it was for PD's as long as you practice all swimming styles. One style will not suffice. Same with stationary bicycle. He meant "learning" but it was not clear to me what kind of learning skill he referred to.

I also read from another source riding a real bicycle is good for balance because it forces you to direct your attention around.

I have read about contradictory results as far as weight lifting.

The only exercise I currently practice is my daily hourly walk in the forest at 2,900 meters above sea level (I live in the Andes). I walk at a fast pace and since terrain is irregular I guess this contributes to brain's plasticity for balance. In addition, since I walk with a wooden stick, this forces me to move my arms (also a weapon. I had to defend my dog the other day against the attack of an aggressive Akita dog. Mine is an 11 year old peaceful Golden Retriever). The way I see it, we, human beings, were designed to walk so it won't hurt if I keep walking, like Johnny Walker.

What confuses me is that most doctors recommend either exercises or sports they don't even practice without realizing themselves the real benefit for their own (dancing, yoga, taichi).

I tried once yoga and deeply relaxed and fell asleep in the middle of the class. Found yoga as boring as listening to a chess game on the radio.

Have you tried Taichi? Supposedly, good for flexibility.

It would be nice to hear your comments.

Lobo
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Old 06-18-2015, 11:17 AM #2
Tupelo3 Tupelo3 is offline
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I tried once yoga and deeply relaxed and fell asleep in the middle of the class. Found yoga as boring as listening to a chess game on the radio.

Have you tried Taichi? Supposedly, good for flexibility.

It would be nice to hear your comments.

Lobo[/QUOTE]

Lobo, I think if you asked 10 different people their opinion about the best exercise routines, you would get 10 different opinions. This is probably just as true for people with PD. There is plenty of evidence that exercise is very important for helping control PD symptoms, and possibly even being interventional in helping with slowing progression. There has only been limited research, however, in testing which forms of exercise are better. In my personal opinion, the best exercises are the ones you do. Seems silly, but what is the good of having exercise equipment if you don't use them. So, do the type of exercise you like, and do a lot of it. Of course, as with many things in life, variety is probably important, as you get different benefits from different forms of exercise. Keep in mind, even if the benefit isn't strictly tied to PD benefits, we will cope better in general if we are in better overall condition.

Regarding Tai Chi, I've been practicing it for three years now (started right after my diagnosis). I find it amazing and addicting and I'm now taking advanced classes. I take 6 hours a week of classes and practice on my own daily. You really need to combine Qigong with Tai Chi if you want to get maximum benefit for mind and body, and this helps with balance, stretching and breathing. My balance is much better today than it was 3 1/2 years ago when my symptoms started. Some of the balance routines we do in advanced class are with lights off and eyes closed (very difficult) and I do them as well as any of the younger members who don't have PD. So yes, I highly recommend adding this to your routine if you can. However, you should realize that Tai Chi is really more a way of life than an exercise. If you take one class for an hour a week, you probably won't get much benefit. You need to add it to your daily routine, like walking.

Good luck,

Gary
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Old 06-18-2015, 12:05 PM #3
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For every PwP there is probably an optimal exercise regime, which is unique to them. The problem, though, is that this is, as yet, unknown. That said, I think that any exercise, as long as it's safe, is better than nothing.

The strategy I follow is based on:

1. Any exercise that you do frequently is better than, a possibly better exercise, that you do rarely. Do things you enjoy.

2. The more effort you put in the better.

3. A variety of exercises is good.

4. Exercise should help living - e.g. walking to the shops, improve socialization.

5. Target skills which might otherwise be lost because of PD, e.g. balance.

6. Target the signs of PD, e.g. force yourself to swing your arms, pedal with a fast cadence.

7. Don't beat yourself up when you don't exercise.

My regime is based on walking 5 miles per day at 4mph. (Hill walking would probably be better.) This is mainly used to do shopping and to get to/from green bowls sessions, which I do about 4 times per week, and is moderately good for flexibility. I frequently use a machine that forces me to move my arms quickly. I would like to do more dancing.

I tried TaiChi once a week for a year, but I didn't enjoy it and got little out of it. But, I know PwP who recommend it.

I notice the OP lives at 2900m. This will have interesting implications for PD in general and exercise in particular. The paper by Willis (2010) shows a negative association between PD prevalence and altitude, but whether there is causation I don't know.

John
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Born 1955. Diagnosed PD 2005.
Meds 2010-Nov 2016: Stalevo(75 mg) x 4, ropinirole xl 16 mg, rasagiline 1 mg
Current meds: Stalevo(75 mg) x 5, ropinirole xl 8 mg, rasagiline 1 mg
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Old 06-23-2015, 11:45 AM #4
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Mix up your exercise.

Swimming, bicycling, walking are all great cardio workouts.

You need to add in some fast/quick sprints so muscles remember what they are there for.

I loved a PWP Tai Chi class, but not enough signed up to continue. If you show me five things to do in a row, I loose track. Do one item, repeat until memorized, and second item..... I can do all five, but appear to be a "slow learner" when if comes to something physical. Alas, a regular Tai Chi class moves too quickly to learn so it is frustrating.

LSVT BIG was intense physical therapy of movement, stretch, and LOUD voice. Huge improvement after a month of that class.
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