Song choice: Do you want to know a secret – The Beatles
Diagnosed : May 25, 2012 Video; Jul 29, 2023
I watched this video on YouTube today by Parkinson’s foundation
Exercise recommendations For Parkinson’s disease – Dr. John g Nutt
And let just say “I had questions?”
Watching this drives home the importance of self advocacy.
We who live with the disease are the only ones who can make it ours!
Video starts off asking
What type of exercises should people with Parkinson’s do ?
Them: They recommend an exercise program that has four parts.
Me: WHAT? Four parts?
Yes this has me interested!
Me: I also believe that any Parkinson’s exercise program should include exercise in four areas!
Unfortunately their Four didn’t even come close to mine.
Them: Their four were:
I: aerobic : biking rowing
2: strengthening:weights
3:stretching: yoga
4:agility: balance to help prevent falls
Me: These four, all involve the “Physical “ aspect of exercise?
I heard this and thought to myself.
What???????
I have questions and I’m only 50 seconds into the video!
Parkinson’s steals more from us than just our Physical abilities!
Parkinson’s is going after, NO, Parkinson’s is attacking our abilities of:
1: cognitive thought
2: our Speech
3: our Vision
4: our movement
Please explain to me, how by just doing
Four types of physical exercises, this will help us !
Yes we can incorporate the first three while doing a Physical exercise.
But they can just as easy be forgotten if they aren’t prioritized as much as the “Physical “,
This would be a shame, as the body (“Physical “) doesn’t engage until our Brain has processed the information it has received from all of the above.
As per weight exercises in building strength. While I’m not against that.
Let’s first build strength by bettering our athletic stance. knowing how to load the body to perform.
Most people have a favourite side.
They always start with the right leg, stop with the right leg, when they fall will use the right leg to get up . They will reach with their right arm. When they walk through a door they will turn right.
Balance their left movement with their right movement.
Remember the 4 P’s of Practice?
The third P was Power.
The focusing on Powerful movements , the power in the initiation of the movement, the power in the completion of the movement.
This focus on Power will make us Stronger , mentally, visually, orally and physically.
And we haven’t even touched a weight yet!
Power will improve our balance and that will provide confidence, this confidence will give them options.
A Parkie with movement options will be a stronger moving Parkie.
Now you can use weights.
Before addressing the loading position and inequalities in their left and right movement abilities . adding muscle mass might actually do more harm than good.
It is my belief that every drill or exercise should include ,
no MUST include a
Mental
Vocal
Visual
Physical
component in it.
By ensuring that those four are in every drill . It will increase the chances that the participant gets some benefit out of the drill, even if they struggled in another area of the drill.
I guess it comes down to what “definition “ of the word exercise you use?
ex·er·cise
/ˈeksərˌsīz/
noun
1. 1. �activity requiring physical effort, carried out to sustain or improve health and fitness.”exercise improves your heart and lung power”�
2. 2. �a process or activity carried out for a specific purpose, especially one concerned with a specified area or skill.
Them: The video recommended exercise
30 minutes a day
5 days a week (More is better )
Don’t need their 4 components every day .
Me: I agree with everything there .
However while you don’t need their 4 components every day.
You know that you are going to think, talk, see and move every day, so you may as well be creative and exercise them every day.
Does exercise slow the progression ?
Them: Not certain some studies show it could repair or prevent further damage to the dopamine system
But neuro-plasticity is activated
The ability to grow and change, in response to therapy
Exercise prevents consequences of Parkinson’s disease from being as severe as they might be without exercise.
Exercise programs like Tai Chi, Pilates , boxing
Can reduce or prevent falls
Me: I can’t argue with that!
Them: Simple walking is not going to challenge the balance system as say dancing
Me :Simple walking can challenge and provide vital, feet feedback to the brain.
Simple barefoot walking on a sand beach, grass surfaces, can provide the feet an opportunity to feel uneven surfaces and provide information for the brain to process.
Another benefit to using Voice, Vision, Mental and Physical in every drill is the involvement of the inner ear.
Which plays a major role in our balance.
Them: Other benefits, is group socializing
Me: YES YES YES
Can’t emphasize enough
Them: Keep moving!
Me: Yes
Them: Exercise is vital to maintaining balance, agility and activities of daily living
Me: Yep
So there you have it.
What are your thoughts?
Have fun and be a warrior l
Parkinsons - My Super Power 