Improving Quality of Life in Parkinson's Disease Through Exercise

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease or are a spouse, close friend, or caretaker of someone with Parkinson's, you have already had enough bad news to last a while. You are fully aware of the downhill slope on which the Parkinson's patient finds his body descending.

The good news is that even though you cannot stop (or even slow down) the physical progression of the disease, there are things you can do right now so that your body will be able to maintain mobility for as long as possible.

Aside from the medications available to fight the symptoms, the things I have found most effective in allowing me to live as normal a life as I can include physical exercise; activities within the family, church, and community; prayer; and attitude. This article focuses on physical exercise.

When I was diagnosed nearly ten years ago, my neurologist, as well as the neurologist who provided the second opinion, told me to stay as absolutely physically active as I can. And that is how I have approached life ever since.

The three most important areas of physical activity that you need to tackle include cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility.

Before discussing the various physical activities, the first thing to emphasize is safety. As important as it is to get exercise, do not do anything that will compromise your physical safety. For example, if your sense of balance is precarious, do not climb flights of stairs for your exercise routine.

Also, if you are currently not following an exercise regimen, consult your doctor and neurologist before beginning something new.

Cardiovascular fitness - increasing the strength of your heart - will improve your endurance and stamina as well as also impacting your emotional well being. It is well documented that, for most people, regular exercise plays a significant role in helping reduce stress and depression.

Unless your symptoms are well advanced, there are probably exercises you can do to get the heart pumping in your aerobic range. What kinds of exercises can you do? Walking briskly for thirty minutes or more every day is a good start. If you are able to jog or run, great! Exercise bikes, stair steppers, treadmills, rowing machines, and other equipment that gets your heart beating rapidly can provide a wonderful workout.

If you have access to a gym or workout facility, that can help. Cost shouldn't stop you from getting exercise. Even if your exercise is merely walking or jogging in place, or walking up and down a flight of stairs repeatedly, the main thing is to get your heart rate up for an extended period of time.

My kids and I jog in the neighborhood two or three days a week. Sometimes we run very slowly, but sometimes I give them a good challenge. We also play a lot of football, basketball, baseball, kickball, or ultimate Frisbee in the backyard, and I try to play tennis once or twice each week as well.

I have found that the more I exercise - if I really push my body as far as I can - the more effective the medications seem to be and the better I feel overall.

Muscular strength is also vitally important. You do not need to try to win any strength contests, but increased strength will even help you with the little things such as getting out of bed in the morning. If or when you fall, for example, you want to be strong enough that you can easily get back up.

What can you do to increase strength? Simple things such as push-ups and sit-ups (or crunches) are good. You may want to consider getting a set of dumb bells and perhaps a weight bench. A set of weights does not have to be expensive in order for it to be effective.

Flexibility is obviously another important area. Your body is becoming more rigid and stiff on a continual basis, and daily stretching will help improve your range of motion. Focusing on your flexibility by having a regular stretching routine may help improve your balance and posture, and it may make you less injury prone while participating in sports or other exercise activities.

Stretching, like any other form of exercise, takes time, and it tends to be the most neglected. Again, be careful while stretching. I have found that it is more helpful for me to stretch in the middle of, or after, an exercise session, because the muscles are warmed up then. I do a little bit of light stretching before hand, but most of my stretching comes after my body has loosened up.

As your body gets more in shape, one possible side benefit is that you may be able to delay the date at which you need to increase medications. Many neurologists now believe that by prolonging the current dosages and not increasing the amounts until you really have to, you may be able to reduce the dyskinesia that is so prevalent in Parkinson's Disease.

I have found this to be true for me. My neurologist has been delighted with how much exercise I am getting overall, and because of this we have been ramping up the dosages more slowly than we would be doing otherwise.

So, get out there and start exercising. Exercise as though the quality of your life depends on it, because frankly it does.

Again, I urge you to consult your physician and neurologist before beginning any new exercise program. Remember, safety comes first.

Keep moving, and good luck!