Can exercise do for Parkinson's patients what medicine can't?
 

..WHAT DO YOU THINK?
SEE BELOW
http://www.king5.com/health/stories/....8cf26b71.html

i firmly believe it. my husband and i see it daily. we own a gym.

one of my husbands clients who has pd had never been upstairs in his house. ( had lived there for a few years) after training with my husband for a few months, this last christmas while he and his wife we entertaining, his wife found him taking their friends on a tour of the upstairs. :D

i can go on and on. we have many members with pd who have seen great results. it's not a miricle, not a cure, it almost like occupational therapy. reteaches your body.

i think so
 

imark,

i work out at least three times a week Tang Soo martial arts. example yesterday extended my stretching in forms today can lift arms above head much more easily. My muscles are sore however this is to be expected no matter if one has condition or not. I noticed that the day after i work out i have better movement, also helps me to rest better. i am going to try and take it up a little and see how it goes. I was dx in oct. symptoms for two years. I also noticed many days i don't feel well and did not train...however i end up feeling worse until i work out again. I would try something you like and see how it goes.

Note we incorporated this with family i have children 4 and 6 so it is nice to be able to have family activity together, wife also works out. Brought out a nice side benefit of all of us achieving higher belt levels. Best thing i have done since being told i have yopd.Great way to spend time with family and being able to enjoy a sport with children.

be well hope this helps
eric aka kman

dear imark~
 

yes - absolutely it can
but not in all cases...
some of the youngonset PD patients I have met, do very poorly -
my friend who passed away this summer at the age of 34 , tried, but the downward spiral was too extreme...

I don't know that exercise is the complete answer. Does it help? Yes, most definitely. By doing exercise we stretch out the muscles that are being rigid and cramped up. There is also an endorphin release that happens that gives us a feeling of well being. Also, the old saying "if you don't use it, you lose it" is so true.

GregD

I understand that exercise stimulates the producion of serotonin which might acccount for its apparent beneficial effect.

I think we need to find what is good for us individually
 

I agree with you dear Tena but one shoud try ... and try hard ..
Also find out what type of exercise and how long ..
I experimented with pillates, yoga, tai chi, walking and home cycling..
Now I mostly do an hour of yoga and 25 mins of cycling followed by cold shower .. I am not young but I am sticking to this because apart from PD it has its own reward .. I confess I have no objective measure of what it is doing to my PD..
God bless you all

I have a book with an exercise program for people with Parkinson's. I just started using it, but I think it is going to be very good and I recommend it. The book is written so it can be used by people at different stages of Parkinson's- with directions for the caregiver to help by reading aloud and adaptations of the exercises for those who already have major disabilities.

It is called Parkinson's Disease & the Art of Moving by John Argue.
An exercise program to: increase flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination; improve communication, voice power, and speech clarity; delay the progression of symptoms and take steps toward leading a fuller life

Chicory:)

My father walked everyday and I know it helped his outlook on life. He also tried different Asian exercise philosphies...you can't tell me that exercise doesn't help anyone...

They may have to change the routine to fit their new muscle status....but exercise done correctly HELPS everybody...

When in doubt ask for Physical Therapy....they are trained to help people with disorders, injuries, etc....

Chicory, I have that book, too. Thanks for reminding me. This Ebay listing has 7 books available for only $4.85 plus $4 shipping:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Parkinsons-Disea...QQcmdZViewItem