Exercise
Parkinson’s disease (PD) has many movement-related symptoms and exercise can help to ease some of these movement difficulties. Exercise is also necessary to maintain fitness and, no matter how fit a person is, it is important to ask for advice on exercise regimes from the moment of diagnosis.
Exercise can have a very positive effect on people with PD, switching the focus onto healthy body functioning. It also provides a sense of achievement and fun, alongside improving:
- muscle strength
- joint flexibility
- balance
- walking
- energy levels
and by helping to prevent:
- constipation
- sleep difficulties
- bone wasting (osteoporosis – exercise reduces the risk)
Exercise should not be strenuous or uncomfortable, but rather gentle, enjoyable and beneficial to the person with PD. For example, something as simple as a daily walk is a useful form of exercise, as it gets the heart, lungs and muscles pumping, improves flexibility and relieves stiffness. Tai Chi and certain types of yoga can be done by many people with PD, providing relaxation techniques and a gentle exercise routine, leading to a feeling of well-being. In some people, dancing can also be very beneficial as music, especially music that emphasises rhythm, e.g., tango or marching, not only improves general mobility but may also improve balance and help overcome freezing episodes. Taking exercise as part of a group can be a social activity, or a short routine of stretches and strengthening exercises can be done at home.
A doctor or physiotherapist should be able to suggest a safe exercise routine to use, as well as specific exercises for the most affected parts of the body. There are many exercises that can be recommended according to the needs of each individual, and a selection of these is shown in the Figure below. In addition, a ‘Parkinson’s flexibility exercise programme’ sheet, providing illustrated instructions for 14 useful exercises, is available to print from the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland website (www.parkinsons.ie/chartpr.htm).
Key exercises
- To download key exercises as printable PDF click here.
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© The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) Inc, Parkinson Plaza, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY10305, USA. Recreated here with the kind permission of the APDA.