Parkinson's disease is characterized by reduced production neurons that produce dopamine, the chemical responsible for coordinating movement. This can result in twitching, stiffness, rigidity, and problems with balance and coordination. This chronic condition has no cure and it progressively worsens over time. Medication typically forms a cornerstone of treatment. Exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms of Parkinson's disease and possibly decrease the risk of developing this disease. Talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program.
Exercise and Movement-Related Brain Chemicals
Dr. Giselle M. Petzinger, writing for the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, says animal studies have found that even when exercise didn't affect dopamine levels, it appeared to make the brain use the chemical more efficiently, meaning it could do more with less. Researchers found that exercise made dopamine signals stronger and last longer and increased the number of receptor sites to which the dopamine can bind. She points out this latter observation has also been found in human subjects who had been recently diagnosed and were not using any medications. Regular physical activity also helps keep levels of glutamate, another chemical heavily involved in movement, in check. Decreasing levels of dopamine can lead to buildup of this chemical and excess levels can destroy brain cells involved in movement.
Neuroplasticity
Exercise appears to contribute to neuroplasticity, the process where the brain repairs itself by fixing and recovering old neuron connections and making new ones. As for its effects on Parkinson's disease specifically, neurologist Dr. Nina Browner, writing for the National Parkinson Foundation, says research indicates this ability of the brain to change and compensate might delay the onset of symptoms and provide relief for active symptoms. While exercise cannot completely reverse this degeneration, it can reduce its effects.
Aerobic Exercise and Symptom Reduction
Petzinger and other researchers looked at the effects of different types of exercise on balance and walking ability. For eight weeks, participants either walked on a treadmill for one hour three times a week at 5 to 8 mph, did low-intensity balancing and stretching exercises, or did not exercise at all. Participants in the high-intensity treadmill exercise group experienced the greatest improvements in balance, stride, gait and posture. Exercise can also lessen other symptoms commonly associated with Parkinson's such as constipation, depression and anxiety. More intense exercise appears to offer the most benefits; Browner advises her patients to exercise at a pace where they cannot carry on a conversation normally.
Other Types of Exercise
If you suffer from Parkinson's disease, you will achieve optimal benefit from incorporating a variety of exercises in addition to cardiovascular activity. Also focus on activities that enhance flexibility, coordination, strength and balance. Speaking to "Yoga Journal," researcher and physical therapist Becky Farley of the University of Arizona, says regular yoga practice has been linked to reduction in tremors and improved functioning of affected muscle groups. Stiffness in the torso area can prove particularly debilitating, and poses that target this area can reduce rigidity, improve walking ability and maintain balance.
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