Exercise is beneficial for people with Parkinson's disease because of its affect on quality of life and well-being, notes Parkinson Society Canada. Exercise helps you stay flexible, mobile and able to keep your balance. Secondary symptoms like constipation and depression may be reduced with exercise as well, and it is also possible that exercise may alter the progression of the disease, adds the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Speak with your physician before beginning an exercise program.
Walking With Turns
Walking for 15 minutes a day with turning, arm swinging and proper stepping will make walking safer and easier. Swinging your arms also releases tension in your shoulders and arms. To practice walking, walk in a straight line across the floor. Make sure you lift your toes off the ground with each step. Take wide steps with your feet landing 10 inches apart so that your base is stable as you walk. When you get ready to turn around, take small steps with your feet still wide apart. Do not cross your legs to turn around. Walk in a circle to turn around and then walk back with wide steps to where you started. Swing your arms as you go to help your momentum and prevent fatigue. Continue to walk back and forth with turning for 15 minutes.
Chair Squats Exercise
The chair squats exercise strengthens your legs and promotes good posture. This exercise will make getting up from a chair easier. To begin, sit in a chair and place your hands on your hips. Quickly lean forward and stand up straight to use momentum to assist your muscles in getting up out of the chair. Then, lean forward and shift your hips back to slowly sit down in the chair. Rest your back against the seat. Pull your shoulder blades back until they touch the back of the chair and hold for three to five seconds to strengthen your upper back. Pull your chin back as well so that your neck is centered over your shoulders.
Chair Twisting
While seated in a chair, twist your torso from side to side to stretch your spine. Begin by sitting up tall on the edge of your seat. Look over your right shoulder and twist your shoulders to the right. Place your left hand on the outside of your right thigh and reach your right arm behind your back to grab your left hip. Use your arms to help you twist and stay in this position for 10 seconds. Keep the spine upright. Repeat to the left.
Doorway Chest and Shoulders Stretch
You can easily stretch your chest and shoulders simply by standing in a doorway and leaning forward while holding the top of the door frame. To do this exercise, extend your arms straight overhead and grab the door frame or place your hands flat on the wall above the door. Lean forward slowly until you feel a stretch. Stay there for 10 seconds.
Use a wall or pull-up bar instead if you cannot reach the top of a door frame. Stand about a foot from the wall and extend your arms straight to rest your palms flat on the wall above you. Then, lean forward until your nose touches the wall. You can adjust the stretch by standing back farther.
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