It’s well-known that exercise of all kinds is beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease. But the importance of exercise therapy for Parkinson’s Disease should not be underestimated.

People with Parkinson’s Disease who participate int exercise earlier, experience a significant  and slower decline in their quality of life. Regular exercise – which is recommended at 2.5 hours per week – can assist with muscle stiffness, postural changes and overall weakness. Additionally, exercise improves balance, walking and other mobility changes. Exercise and activity can even manage constipation, which is commonly seen in people with Parkinsnon’s.

It is never too early after receiving the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease to use principles of movement, flexibility, posture and balance in your daily routine! A big part of treating movement disorders is continuously evaluating and monitoring patients and we appreciate the opportunity to form long-term relationships with our patients by not only providing exercise therapy but advice and education as their condition changes over time. Read our article to find out how we can help you.

What is Parkinson’s Disease (PD)?

PD is a neurodegenerative disease and in actual fact, a very common neurological disorder. Put in simple terms it is a movement disorder. This movement disorder is caused by some of the nerve cells in the brain that undergo degeneration. The part of the brain that undergoes degeneration controls our movement. That is why specific movements are very difficult to carry out if you have PD. Parkinson’s is also called a hypokinetic disorder which means the individual is in a low movement state. Initiating movement is probably the most difficult thing for most PD patients to do. PD only affects adults and it is progressive in nature.

Parkinson’s disease impacts the ability to perform movements that are usually done without conscious thought

Possible causes of Parkinson’s Disease (PD)

• No definitive cause
• Possibly genetics or DNA variants
• Other factors involving opioids or pesticides

CLINICAL FEATURES OF PD

• Tremors – Involuntary shakiness, normally seen in the hands (Pill-rolling tremor). This tremor is present at rest and disappears with intentional movement.
• Rigidity – Refers to the stiffness in the body. There is uneven movements and the control of how movements occur are less smooth. The stooped posture can be due to the rigidity in the body.
• Bradykinesia – Slow movements.
• Hypokinesia – Reduced movement.
• Akinesia – Absence of movement.
• Difficulty initiating movement.
• Legs might feel like they freeze when wanting to walk.
• Shuffling gait – small steps, as they have an inaccurate perception of movement size and quality
• Postural instability – problems with balance.
• Balance problems which can lead to falls.

OTHER COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PD

• Depression
• Dementia
• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulty smelling
• Dysfunction in other parts of the brain

Treatment options

Treatment currently available for PD only helps with the clinical features and symptoms. It does not stop the progression of the disease. Although there are various methods to assist PD patients, we provide conservative treatment in the form of exercise therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Our professional biokineticists can guide you through the right exercises to increase mobility, strength and balance. Which will assist you with your daily activities such as walking, going up and down stairs, and doing the things you love. The main goal is to help you remain as independent as possible by keeping you as strong as possible.

The importance of exercise therapy

The Parkinson’s brain is working to slow everything down, so it is important to make big movements with bursts of energy to combat those efforts. This has to be done in a safe environment with someone that knows what movements will provide you with the most benefits. Research has shown us that patients with PD who takes part in exercise therapy for Parkinson’s Disease slows down the progression of PD even after symptoms start.

Your body and brain love to be surprised and we know how to exercise a variety of vital muscle groups in each session. The key however is consistency. So we aim to help you do some sort of movement every single day. We teach you what to do, when to do it and how to do it safely.

GET IN TOUCH

Things our biokineticist may work on:

1. Slowing down the progression of hypokinesia

By doing overexaggerated physical movements, we try to retrain your body’s ability to use the muscles and brain.

2. Reciprocal Patterns

This refers to movements that include side-to-side and left-to-right patterns. Any exercise focussing on your gait (walking) will include reciprocol patterns as well. The biokineticist helps you reinforce reciprocal patterns by using specific exercises or specific exercise machines. By implementing this exercise therapy technique you will see the benefits of improved motor control, coordination and balance.

3. Balance Work

Proprioception, kinesthetic awareness and balance, all refers to how well your eyes, ears and body interacts with each other. Parkinson’s disease can affect your balance system, making you unstable when walking, which in turn may increase your fall risk. Together you may be fearful of public spaces with many people. We teach you exercises that aim to improve your ability to balance. And we do this in a very safe manner in a safe environment. We work with you to understand any issues you may have with balance and teach you ways to work around these difficulties.

4. Stretching and Flexibility

It’s common for patients with Parkinson’s disease to develop tight hip flexors, hamstring and calf muscles. To counteract that stiffness, it’s best to stretch at frequent intervals throughout the day, rather than just once. Our qualified biokineticists can show you how to stretch efficiently.

5. Strength Training

Muscles naturally weaken with age, so strength training is important for everyone. But research suggests that muscle weakness is a bigger problem for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Depending on what stage of the disease you are in, a therapist might have you do resistance exercises with light dumbbells or a resistance band.

A newsletter in 2021 from the Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center explains

11 Reasons To Exercise If You Have Parkinson’s Disease.

1- Exercise may delay the onset of Parkinson’s and help slow down the progression of PD even after symptoms start.

2- Exercise enhances balance and gait performance, and reduces the fall rate in PD patients.

3- Exercise improves the slowness of movement that occurs in Parkinson’s.

4- Exercise can improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects of anti-parkinson medications such as wearingoff and dyskinesias.

5- Exercise could help preserve and improve cognition in PD patients.

6- Exercise enhances mood and helps treat depression and anxiety which commonly occur in Parkinson’s.

7- Regular exercise of moderate intensity improves quality of sleep.

8- Physical activity and exercise are important in promoting healthy bowel movements, thereby preventing and treating constipation which Parkinson’s patients are at risk for.

9- Exercise could decrease pain and assist with pain control in PD patients.

10- Exercise improves bone mineral density and prevents osteoporosis, thereby reducing the risk of bone fractures if falls occur.

11- Exercise has many other health benefits, and reduces the risk of other diseases that can worsen quality of life for PD patients such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and strokes.