PARKINSON’S, TAKE A HIKE!

January 5, 2018

(Courtesy photo) A.C. Woolnough with one of the pack llamas during a recent 58-mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail with the Pass to Pass for Parkinson's team.

It seems that every time I turn around, someone is saying “keep moving”. Nah, I don’t mean in the grocery check-out line. I mean when aging issues are mentioned. I normally exercise about five days a week, so regular movement has become a part of my daily routine.

But I know many people haven’t developed that routine as they age. I fear their limited movement will, ironically, catch up with them one day. That is especially true for people with skeletal, muscular, or neurological limitations. I’ve heard many medical people say “Motion is Lotion”.

I believe that to be true. And that’s why I was particularly intrigued by the adventure taken last August by A.C. Woolnough. Many of you know A.C. You may also know he has dealt with Parkinson’s Disease since 2012. But he keeps moving. And it’s made a big difference to him!

His summer adventure was a 58-mile hike along a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail in the Washington Cascades. He trained for that long trek; then joined three other “Parkis” (pronounced “park-ees”?), three support hikers and three llamas.

You can read two helpful articles, one pre-hike and one post-hike, written by the Daily Bee’s reporter, Mary Malone. Simply Google “woolnough bee” and you see links to both. Another option? Join the Geezer Forum next Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the Columbia Bank’s Community Room, 2:30-4 p.m.

A.C. will share some of his adventure and his personal insights about Parkinson’s with us. Much of his message, though, will also be how the wonders of movement make such a big difference for persons dealing with health issues. 

As A.C. and I were taking about his being at the Geezer Forum a few months ago, I happened to see two video segments about how Parkinson’s Disease symptoms are greatly reduced by movement, by exercise. One exercise was golf! The other was boxing! Both surprised me.

As it happens, A.C. is well aware of the positive impact both sports have on some folks living with Parkinson’s. In fact, he mentioned his wife is looking into the possibility to bring “boxing with Parkinson’s” to the Sandpoint area. That even made me wonder about boxing as another exercise I could try. Wow! Did I really say that?

This focus on exercise and movement could fit well into your list of New Year’s resolution, at least if getting healthier is on your list. So please consider joining us at the Geezer Forum on January 9, 2:30-4 p.m. We will welcome you at the Community Room in the Columbia Bank with welcome arms, (and maybe even some hiking exercises!).

Paul Graves, M.Div., is lead geezer-in-training of Elder Advocates, a consulting ministry on aging issues. Contact Paul at 208-6104971 or elderadvocates@nctv.com.

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/columns/20180105/parkinsons_take_a_hike