According the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, exercise is a viable way to help control the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's, a neurological disease that affects movement, manifests differently in each person; however, exercise is the key to remaining independent for as long as possible. Though medications and surgeries can help ease symptoms such as tremor and dystonia, they can't help with balance. As the disease progresses, some people with Parkinson's may need to modify their exercise routines.
Considerations
There are several ways a person with Parkinson's can exercise in order to maintain flexibility, range of motion, and muscle and cardiovascular strength in the trunk area of the body. The key is to try to exercise every day; however, be sure to speak with your primary care physician before you begin. Before starting, always do a warm up. The warm up should be at least five minutes long and can be performed sitting down.
Warm Up
Some warm up exercises are chin tucks, head turns and tilts, trunk bends, which would include moving forward and backward, side-to-sides and twisting. Raising you shoulders up and down while your arms remain loose by your side is a good warm up, as is stretching your arms up and to the side.
Potential
The American Parkinson Disease Association suggests warm water exercise as a good way to engage the trunk. Before you begin, see if the program requires a medical release form so it will be covered by your insurance. Also, check to make sure that your instructor has credentials, which are different in each state. They should have training in water safety, first aid and, heart attack resuscitation.
Significance
Aquatic exercise is performed in water that is anywhere from at least 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.. Some pools are 90 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit so that your muscles can relax, you are free of pain, and you will not become cold. To focus on trunk flexibility, perform a trunk rotation exercise by standing in water up to your waist. Bend your knees with your feet pointing forward. Using water hand weights, stretch your arms out in front of you and twist at the waist from side-to-side. Other water exercises that involve the trunk include flexion, pelvic tilts and hip circles. These all can be done with or without hand weights.
Expert Insight
The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, recommends dance as a viable therapy that helps with balance and stretches the trunk. They have reviewed studies specific to the Argentine tango. While dancing the Argentinian tango, people with Parkinson's are instructed to keep the trunk over the bracing foot and stretch the other foot backwards, keeping the toe of the foot in the back on the floor as it glides back and shifts their trunk backwards over the rear foot. The tango music is thought to function as an external signal to help with movement.
