April is Parkinson's awareness month! So here at FYZICAL, we're focusing on Parkinson's disease, what it means for our patients, and how staying active to manage Parkinson's disease could help you move better and avoid falls.
Parkinson's is a disease that affects the part of the brain that coordinates your movement, causing slowness of movement, muscle rigidity, and some balance problems.
Although this disease is not curable, the best thing we can recommend for anyone with a Parkinson's diagnosis is to stay active! Activity can make the difference between a poor or enjoyable quality of life.
Keep reading to find out the best ways of staying active to manage Parkinson's disease!
Tips For Staying Active To Manage Parkinson's Disease
Practice Exaggerated Movements
A symptom of Parkinson's disease is often that you perceive your movements to be larger than they actually are.
Practicing exaggerated movements can mean that tasks like walking can become easier and may find you become more confident as a result.
The next time you walk around, try exaggerating your arm swing!
Not only are you trying to make bigger, bolder movements but you are keeping joints supple and muscles loose so that you can have more freedom of movement.
With a bit of practice and some support from your family with this simple tip, you could eventually get back to going on days out or keeping up with the family while out on a walk. The possibilities are endless!
Stretch Daily
One of the most difficult symptoms for people with Parkinson's disease is the muscle rigidity it causes and the lack of movement suffered from it.
When we speak to patients about their diagnoses they often become disappointed when they're too stiff to move and can't enjoy their once-loved hobbies.
However, another handy tip for staying active to manage Parkinson's disease is to make an effort to stretch daily and at certain times during the day.
Stretching can combat this muscle and joint stiffness and allow you to be able to move more freely and enjoy activities again that you've had to put on pause due to your overwhelming symptoms.
Set Achievable Acitivty Goals
Perhaps the most important step to follow when staying active to manage Parkinson's disease is to set yourself achievable goals.
If you've been diagnosed for a long time, have been inactive for a while, or are experiencing cognitive decline due to the disease, it may take you a little longer to experience any of the benefits of exercise... but it WILL happen!
The best way to see these changes and improvements in your quality of life is to make sure your goals aren't too lofty!
If you're not sure where to start, here are a couple to get you going!
- Get out of your chair three times in one day
- Stretch four times today
- Go for a 15-minute walk every day this week
Try High-Intensity Exercise
Research has shown that high-intensity exercise is good for those who have a Parkinson's diagnosis.
Effective activities include walking, swimming, weightlifting, and biking. The reason why these activities are excellent for people with slowed movement is that they encourage big, strong movements (the ones we talked about at the start!) that can help your overall mobility, balance, and ease of movement.
If you do one or more of these exercises for just 2.5 hours per week, you should see a vast improvement in your activity level and your ability to keep up the exercise in the weeks and months to come!
LSVT BIG: The Program
LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment) BIG trains individuals with neurological conditions affecting the motor system, such as Parkinson’s Disease, to use their bodies more effectively to increase safety and improve function with daily activities.
And we offer this program right here at FYZICAL with Clare, our expert in Parkinson's disease!
LSVT BIG is a customized, 1-on-1 treatment program focused on improving self-care and functional needs specific to each individual.
By thinking and moving “BIG,” we train the mind to “recalibrate” one’s movements to close the gap on the mismatch between how one perceives to be moving and how one is actually moving.
This program is perfect for improving the quality of life for a patient, reducing fall risk, and helping people get back to activities they once loved like days out with the grandchildren or spring sun in the garden!
To find out more about our LSVT BIG program, you can call our Waukesha clinic at 62-349-9297 and we can answer all of your questions, help you feel more confident about the program, and get you on the road to a more active lifestyle!
Not Quite Ready For Our LSVT Program?
If you're feeling unsure about our LSVT program, or you want some help from a Parkinson's expert, our free Parkinson's assessment is ideal for you!
In your free Parkinson's assessment, you can speak to a member of our expert physical therapist team, ask them the questions you have and they can give you peace of mind with their answers. You can also discover the best treatment options for you and feel confident about your action plan after your assessment!
To arrange your free Parkinson's assessment, fill in our simple web form, or call our Waukesha clinic at 62-349-9297.
Other Free Resources For Fitness And Health
Take our Fight The Fall Quiz where you can quickly find out your fall risk, and receive some free expert advice about preventing falls in the elderly and younger individuals struggling with their balance and coordination.
Read Our Blog - Taking Steps To Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle And Look Forward To Planning Summer Activities
Read Our Blog - Become More Confident On Your Feet And Prevent Falls
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