Parkinson’s disease and syndrome are classified as a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. Symptoms can include but are not limited to the following; tremors at rest, stiffness of the limbs, rigidity, slowness of movement, difficulty walking and balance issues. As the disease progresses some people may have difficulty performing daily tasks.
The importance of exercise for individuals with Parkinson’s should not be underestimated. This is a central nervous system disease that requires daily stimulus in the form of exercise to slow or stop the progression of this disease. The exercise program for people with Parkinson’s should commence immediately upon diagnosis.
All forms of exercise are recommended, provided the participant is able to perform each exercise safely. For example, weight training with free weights is recommended if the person is able to hold on to the weights without the risk of dropping them. Those with high tremor levels or poor balance may need to perform exercises seated in a chair to avoid falling.
The goal of the exercise program is to slow the progression of the disease, improve quality of life and avoid falls. The level of benefit derived is dependent on the type of exercises being performed, the ability of the individual to perform the exercises, the duration of time being spent exercising and the attitude of the person.
When designing an exercise program for people that have Parkinson’s, one must consider the goal. One of the main limiting effects of Parkinson’s is slow muscle movement. In other words, the person is no longer able to produce power at an optimal level. All movements require power. Power is the ability to contract muscles at a high rate of velocity, or in other words, move the force time curve to the left. If the individual expects to see an improvement in mobility and quality of life, they must increase power. Therefore, the exercise program must include exercises that provide the optimum stimulus, with a proper progression in order to achieve the best result.
Another factor to consider for individuals that have Parkinson’s is the importance of training the central nervous system. The central nervous system is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. It is responsible for sending messages that allow people to move. The key to training the central nervous system is to performing suitable exercises over and over again. By doing so, the body will eventually adapt to the stimulus. This should provide the participant with the ability to perform tasks at a higher level.
People with Parkinson’s should consult with their Parkinson’s physician or family physician before commencing with an exercise program.
References: Webmd.com, Wikipedia.org