Independence is important to every person, and when that independence is imposed upon by a disease that affects your every movement, the challenge may seem insurmountable. As foreboding as a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease may be, through proactive measures you can lead a full, productive and active life for many years.
What Is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson's disease is a progressive disease affecting movement. While the exact cause is unknown, it begins silently as neural cells, called substantia nigra, slowly weaken and die. These cells produce the neurotransmitter, dopamine, which is lost as the cells die. Dopamine is a key chemical controlling muscle movement and balance. This deterioration may be developing for years before you notice a change in muscle control, and by the time you are diagnosed, as much as 80 percent of your dopamine neurons are gone.
Symptoms
Each person with Parkinson's disease, or PD, experiences the onset of symptoms and progression differently. One or more of the most prevalent symptoms must be present in order to make a diagnosis of PD. These symptoms are resting tremor, postural instability, bradykinesia and rigidity. A resting tremor is an involuntary movement of the hands or feet while at rest. Postural instability refers to the loss of balance and coordination. Bradykinesia occurs when purposeful movement is slow, and rigidity is when muscles become stiff and immovable.
Exercise
As noted, there is time between the start of the substantia nigra deterioration and the onset of symptoms. During this time your brain compensates and learns how to perform motor functions with less dopamine. This is called exercise-dependent neuroplasticity. Patients with PD have been found to experience improved symptoms after participating in exercise. In 2008, the journal "Movement Disorders" published a review and meta-analysis of previous studies analyzing the effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease. The review found that exercise improved leg strength, balance and walking ability as well as overall quality of life for patients. The goal is that exercise will slow down or balance the effects of neural degeneration.
Ice Skating
As of the date of publication, there are no studies evaluating ice skating as a treatment for Parkinson's disease. Given that impaired balance is a frequent symptom of PD, care should be taken when participating in any activity requiring balance control. However, if your symptoms are under control and your doctor feels it is safe, there are no contraindications to ice skating. Due to the considerable equilibrium required, ice skating may be a beneficial treatment for the postural instability caused by Parkinson's disease.
References
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation; What Is Parkinson's?; Giselle M. Petzinger, M.D.; Fall 2009
- Parkinson's Disease Foundation: Symptoms
- "Movement Disorders"; The Effectiveness of Exercise Interventions for People With Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis; Victoria A. Goodwin, et al.; April 2008
Member Comments