Fighting back against Parkinson’s: the incredible power of exercise

You know the symptoms: weakness, instability, tremors, slowed movement, difficulty communicating, fatigue.

A Parkinson’s diagnosis can be overwhelming. It’s easy to believe that your body, and your life, are no longer in your control.

While there are medications that can control your symptoms, there’s no cure.

Have you heard about the “wonder drug” exercise? Multiple studies show that it can work wonders alongside traditional medication.

Exercise as “medicine”

According to the Parkinson’s Outcomes Project – the largest clinical study of Parkinson’s disease – early exercise habits are crucial for disease management. The study found that people who started exercising earlier and for a minimum of 2.5 hours per week had a slower rate of decline (than those who started exercising later).

That said, exercise is beneficial at any stage.

How does exercise help?

Scientists don't know exactly why exercise helps. However, they believe it may help brain cells stay healthy.

That said, exercise does much more than build muscle strength. It can improve your: 

●      mobility

●      stability

●      endurance

●      gait

●      cognitive function

It also decreases bradykinesia (slowness) and enhances the effectiveness of Levodopa therapy (a medication used to manage Parkinson’s symptoms).

Since exercise is often a social activity, it can also keep you from feeling isolated.

Parkinson’s exercise classes in Alexandria

Knute Nelson makes it easy for you to access specialized Parkinson’s exercise programs. We offer:

●      Rock Steady Boxing

●      NeuroFit®

●      LSVT BIG®

●      LSVT LOUD®

Rock Steady Boxing

You don’t need to be a fighter to box. Rock Steady Boxing is non-contact boxing-style fitness classes. It focuses on overall fitness, strength training, reaction time and balance. (It was founded in 2006 by a man who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age 40.)

Offered through outpatient therapy at the Nelson Wellness Center.

NeuroFit

In NeuroFit classes, you’ll build confidence and get support from others like you. (You’ll exercise with others with similar goals.) There are also options to enhance and customize your experience.

Offered through outpatient therapy at the Nelson Wellness Center.

LSVT BIG

Moving slower and making smaller movements are common to Parkinson’s disease. These make it harder to get around, get dressed and do other activities of daily living.

LSVT BIG helps you change how you see yourself move. (It might seem to you that you’re making “normal” movements at a “normal” speed. Compared to others, however, you’re not.)

You’ll learn how to make bigger movements that will help you with fine-motor skills – buttoning a shirt, for example – and large-motor skills – getting up from a chair or keeping your balance while you walk.

Offered through outpatient therapy at the Nelson Wellness Center or in your home through home care.

LSVT LOUD

Parkinson’s can make it difficult for people to hear and understand you. You might speak in a hushed voice. Or mumble. That’s because what you hear and what others hear are two different things.

LSVT LOUD trains you to speak so it’s easy for others to hear and understand.

Offered through outpatient therapy at the Nelson Wellness Center or in your home through home care.

Parkinson’s is an overwhelming diagnosis. Fighting back with exercise can slow the progress of the disease.

Perhaps as important, exercise brings support from others like you and the confidence that comes from fighting back for control of your life.

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