As the new year starts you have likely heard people talk about making exercise part of their routine. Exercise has many benefits including heart health, weight loss/maintenance, mood improvements, and better energy levels. It includes different types of activities including strength training, flexibility, balance/agility, and aerobic training. Research has shown that these modes of exercise have additional benefits in people that have Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Muscle power and strength can decrease in people diagnosed with PD resulting in decreased walking speed, difficulty getting up from chairs or going up and down stairs, and up to six times greater risk for falls. The good news is that resistance training has been shown to help improve speed of movement, muscle strength, and walking. One study found that people who participated in a twice a week resistance training program for two years required a lower increase in levodopa dosage, a common medication used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Some examples of resistance/strength training include squats, leg press, and bicep curls. In general, it refers to exercises aimed at improving strength through the progressive use of resistance.
Another mode of exercise is flexibility training. It includes exercises aimed at increasing the length of a muscle with the purpose of allowing greater range of motion and proper posture. This is relevant in people with PD because a flexed posture can lead to tightness of the muscles on the front of your body such as your hip flexors and your pectoral (chest) muscles which can limit motion. Research has shown that including stretching exercises in your routine twice a week can help improve trunk mobility which is helpful for walking and balance. Furthermore, balance specific training is associated with decreased freezing and nearly 40 percent decline in falls. The results are even better when combining strength, flexibility, and balance training. And, getting started early can lead to better results later in life.
Lastly, there is aerobic training which helps make the heart, lungs, and muscles more efficient. Recent research has had promising findings in people with PD. Some of the benefits include a decrease in shuffling and tremor, increased speed of movement, improved balance, greater ease with fine motor control tasks such as writing and buttoning, and a decrease in medication usage.
In general, a weekly exercise routine should include at least two days of strength training, two days of flexibility training, and four to five days of high intensity aerobic training. A physical therapist can help you develop a program that suits your needs and that is safe for you. Sometimes people find it hard to motivate to engage in an exercise routine. Choosing an activity that you like, exercising with a friend, and putting it into your weekly schedule are a few tips that can help you develop a habit of exercising. Community exercises classes are also a great way of exercising and have the added benefit of meeting other people. So, what are you waiting for? Ring in the new year with the protective effects of exercise!
The American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) has great resources online to help you find exercise classes, educational sessions, and support groups near you. You can go into www.apdaparkinson.org/community/massachusetts/resources-support-ma/arts-movement-classes/ to begin your search for a class that interests you.
Spaulding Outpatient Center Framingham will be offering the Parkinson’s Disease Community Wellness Exercise Program Spring, 2018. The program runs for six weeks, two days a week. The cost is $199. There are scholarships available. Please contact Maria Cole at 508-532-4268 for further details.
Ana Sanchez Junkin, PT, DPT is a Physical Therapist at Spaulding Outpatient Center in Framingham. She completed her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at MGH Institute of Health Professions and has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She specializes in the treatment of neuromuscular and vestibular conditions.
http://wenham.wickedlocal.com/entertainmentlife/20180116/flexible-fitness-ring-in-new-year-with-exercise-benefits-of-exercise-for-people-with-parkinsons-disease
No comments:
Post a Comment