Friday, June 17, 2016
Though Parkinson's disease may have first entered the limelight after Michael J. Fox made his diagnosis public in 1998, it has once again moved into the public eye following the death of former heavyweight champion Muhammed Ali.
"Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain that is caused by a loss of cells which produce a chemical called dopamine," Jordan Reed, director of rehabilitation services for Spencer Hospital, said, "Among other functions, dopamine plays an important role in controlling and fine tuning movement."
Reed went on to say that the loss of dopamine also contributes to familiar symptoms of Parkinson's, such as stooped posture, a shuffling gait, and difficulties with speech and handwriting.
"For those with Parkinson's disease, these signs and symptoms can make everyday activities time-consuming and difficult and can lead to significant functional limitation," Reed said.
Thankfully, Parkinson's therapy programs are spreading across the country. The programs generally focus on physical activity as a way to counteract the progression of the disease.
"Referrals to community based exercise groups are often part of the recommendations we make to our patients with Parkinson's disease," Reed said, "Exercise is proven to offset many of the physical side effects of Parkinson's disease. The reasons for this include a release of neurotransmitters in the brain during and following exercise, including dopamine, gains in muscular size and strength, improved balance and more efficient motor patterns and movement."
One such exercise group is available at the Spencer Family Y. The class, titled "Delaying the Disease," is led by Josh Kelly, Spencer Y's wellness director.
Kelly recalled being inspired to start the program shortly after his start at the Y. During a conversation with a member, Kelly learned about a Parkinson's therapy group that the gentleman had attended during his time in Austin, Texas. Kelly then decided to go to Des Moines for training as an instructor and brought the program to Spencer.
"We'll be going on two years this September," Kelly said.
According to Kelly, the program, which was developed by OhioHealth, is becoming more common at many Y facilities. He indicated that the Y may be an ideal conduit for the program to spread. By his estimation, "Delaying the Disease" is now available in half the states in the country. Comparatively, he estimated that the program was only available in 12 states when the Spencer program began.
Generally, Kelly begins the class with a 5- to 10-minute warm-up. The group walks forward, backward and sideways to improve movement and coordination. The group also works to improve their agility with an exercise common to many sports teams.
"We basically do ladder drills like you would in football," Kelly explained.
The class also practices what Kelly called "big step walking." This exercise involves the participants taking as long of strides as possible, using their entire body and swinging their arms widely. Other exercises include holding an object on one side of the body, standing on one leg, and standing with feet spread apart. Not only can these exercises help reinforce balance and strength, but participants can practice them at home.
As Reed described, those with Parkinson's often experience "significant functional limitations in speech" and have difficulty being heard and projecting. To address this, the group practices speaking loudly and "shouting" to make projection a habit. Kelly noted that the class sometimes combines two activities, such as shouting numbers and colors while completing the ladder drill.
In addition to speech, Delaying the Disease also works to address the difficulties with writing.
"Actually, handwriting is one of the big issues people have when they get Parkinson's," Kelly said. He explained that those with Parkinson's often tend to "cramp up" their writing and will write smaller and smaller as they continue across the page. To counter this, the class practices writing and signing their names in "big letters."
"We've had good luck with that," Kelly said.
Yet, according to Kelly, the therapy is not simply physical. The class has formed a social aspect as well.
"That's another thing that's helpful, having that camaraderie," Kelly said, noting that members of the class can often relate to what the others are going through. In fact, he has noticed several of them gathering at the warm water therapy pool before class begins.
Reed echoed Kelly saying, "The relationships and camaraderie that are developed during the classes are oftentimes just as beneficial to participants and their families as the functional gains that are made."
Though some facilities offer therapy programs that last only 8-12 weeks, this is not the case at the Spencer Y.
"We keep it going year-round," Kelly said, adding that, once the participants have completed the entire curriculum, they are welcome to begin again.
Lastly, Kelly noted that if interest in the program continues to grow, another staff member will need to receive training to expand the class. This did not seem to worry him.
"There's always room to grow," Kelly said.
The class meets both Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. for approximately an hour. The program itself is free to members of the Y and senior membership rates are available. Though no doctor's referral is necessary, Kelly encouraged communication between participants and staff regarding fall risks and other similar concerns.
http://www.spencerdailyreporter.com/story/2314681.html
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