Exercising with Parkinson's Disease
Regular exercise helps to manage symptoms and slow down the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Image courtesy of LMH Health
Older people living with Parkinson’s Disease often experience rigidity, limitation in walking ability, and restrictions with other motor functions on a daily basis. Regular, daily exercise is well researched, and widely recognised as an effective way to help manage the symptoms and slow down the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. When you have better mobility, you are likely to find activities of daily living much easier to complete, which in turn improves your quality of life, and prolongs independent living. Now you know the benefits of exercise for Parkinson’s disease, so what type of exercise is the best, and is the right one for you? Every person is different! Listed below are some suggestions especially tailored for older individuals with Parkinson’s Disease that may help you with your decision.
Flexibility Exercises: Incorporating gentle stretches for all major muscle groups in your routine not only can help to improve flexibility and range of motion, it can also help to alleviate the stiffness or rigidity that you might experience on a daily basis. Yoga or Pilates classes specially designed for people with Parkinson’s Disease can be a great place to start.
Balance Exercises: Parkinson’s Disease can affect balance and coordination, which increases the risk of falls. Practising both static, and dynamic balance in a range of different foot positions, and environments are great ways to maintain and even improve your balance, increase your confidence and reduce the risk of falls. Simple exercises like standing on one leg, heel-to-toe walking, or using a balance board can be beneficial.
Resistance Exercises: Engaging in resistance exercises to maintain or increase muscle strength can help to make activities of daily living like getting up from the toilet and getting out of the car easier to do. You don’t need fancy equipment to perform resistance exercises that target major muscle groups, you can simply use your own body weight, or basic equipment such as resistance bands, small weights, or even household items such as a water bottle or cans. With any resistance exercises, it is crucial to focus on performing the exercise with proper form and start with lighter weights, before gradually increasing the intensity as tolerated.
Aerobic Exercises: Participating in low impact aerobic activities that are gentle on your joints, but elevate your heart rate and breathing such as walking, cycling, swimming, or dancing can promote cardiovascular health and overall fitness. Exercise to music has also been proven to provide fantastic results in managing Parkinson’s symptoms. Dance for Parkinson’s Australia runs specialised dance classes across Australia to help explore movement in ways that are refreshing, enjoyable, stimulating and creative.
Whatever your choice of exercise will be, it is important to work closely with a health professional such as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist prior to commencing. As they can help to determine the most suitable personalised exercise program tailored to your individual circumstances, abilities, and guide you through the exercise journey. It is never too late to start exercising. Contact us to get more information today!