Think

Think: Aretha Franklin

Diagnosis Date: May 25, 2012 Date of Video: Feb 01, 2023

Simple neurology = simple exercise?

Obviously there is more in depth, more scientific information to what I’ve written here. I am no Doctor or Scientist.

But I don’t just do things because others are doing it.

I ask questions so that I can somewhat understand the rationale behind it.

In order for this to happen, I must dumb it down as much as possible.

So this is how I interpret the dumbed down information, so that I may use it as best I can to fight MY Parkinson’s.

Hopefully it will inspire you to take more responsibility in the fight against YOUR Parkinson’s.

We have 8 senses

Visual

Auditory

Gustatory

Olfactory

Tactile

Vestibular

Proprioception

Interoception

These 8 senses provide input to the brain.

The brain then interprets this input and organizes it into data that it will send out to the body.

Our muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones etc. receive this output so that they may perform as required.

However people with Parkinson’s have some defects in one or more of the 8 senses.

For example loss of smell, loss of taste, dry eyes. These defects can be caused, by the brain not producing enough Dopamine.

Because the brain is limited to the amount of dopamine it can supply to the eight senses . The eight senses are thereby compromised in their ability to collect and provide the proper input.

The brain then receives limited or compromised input, that it now uses in providing the body with the Output to move correctly.

It’s an open circuit that is flawed. With each rotation causing more stress to the other.

The body under performs causing the senses to work harder and faster . The senses get stressed causing flaws to the input that they supply to the brain.

And the cycle continues causing the disease ( Parkinson’s) to progress.

And as the disease progresses, it now also stresses the input, the processing, and the outputs even more.

So now knowing this, how should we devise a plan using exercise to combat the disease?

Should we exercise?

Yes, Yes, a thousand times Yes

Exercise is imperative.

What and how should we exercise?

Should we prioritize one area over another?

Is building up bone density, muscle mass , strength, power and endurance more important than exercising our senses.

If we are stronger and more fit but our brain is still receiving bad input, are we any better off?

Or should we focus more on the senses. Learning to help a compromised sense by strengthening or enhancing another.

Thereby providing better input to the brain so that the brain can provide better output to the body.

Remember why we are exercising.

We are exercising so that we can move about during our day in a more comfortable, pain free manner.

So we can move without putting our health at peril.

We are not exercising to become a better athlete!

A successful exercise routine should focus on where the break down happens and why the breakdown happened.

Then, What can we do to try and limit the breakdown?

Remember that Parkinson’s is a progressive disease and therefore any exercise program should be as well.

Whether you are using Aerobic or Anaerobic exercises try and include as many of the senses as you can in each drill.

Experiment, by including as many of senses as you can in each drill, you might find a way that will get a strength in one to compensate for a weakness in another.

To simplify, each drill must have 4 components

Physical

Oral

Mental

Visual

Try and use as many of the senses in each component and as many components in each drill, as much as possible.

By doing this, the better we get at one component, we will in some degree be improving the others as well.

Do not just follow blindly.

Question the purpose of the drill.

Pay attention to the details

It will be easier to commit your best effort into the drill the more you understand the rationale behind it.

You are unique!

Your Parkinson’s is unique!

Make sure your exercise program is unique as well.

Have Fun and be a Warrior