Is exercise like medicine for Parkinson's?
Who is Lori DePorter?
Lori DePorter was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s (YOPD) six years ago at the age of 45. She is the wife and mother of three boys. She has made exercise and writing her passion to empower others facing the same journey. Today, she teaches classes and is a published author. Her column, Life, Lemons & Lemonade, is published in the Parkinson’s News Today and she has written for the Davis Phinney Foundation. Lori hopes her teaching and her writing will inspire others to live their best life with Parkinson’s— and to live it well.
Tips for exercise with Parkinson’s…
Exercise is Medicine - Take it Every Day...
There are many schools of thought for putting together a care plan for a person with Parkinson’s. Since we are all unique and have our own “personalized” set of symptoms, quirks, and challenges, each care plan should be ideally different. A plan of care should be designed to fit our needs, including medications, therapy, and exercise.
What can be a treatment for all of us?
Exercise. Exercise is medicine and exercise is just as important as the pills we take each day. Exercise is thought by some experts to possibly affect progression— but because of powerful symptomatic benefits exercise should be part of your daily routine. Exercise is the one treatment that is an umbrella over all of us. Exercise should not be restricted by progression or how impacted you are by Parkinson’s symptoms. There’s an exercise option for everyone. T he trick is finding an activity that works for you.
What if I have limited mobility?
An entire exercise program can actually be accomplished when seated in a chair. I have in my experience even had people boxing for Parkinson’s punch a heavy bag while seated in a chair.
There are simple exercises that can be performed with limited mobility - squeeze a ball in your hands, toss the ball from one hand to the other while saying the a,b,c’s or performing another cognitive task.
What is the best exercise?
As a “rock steady boxing coach,” a certified personal trainer, and a person with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD), exercise has been a savior for me. Here are a few tips that I have personally found to be essential elements for a successful exercise program.
● Work with your care team to determine a safe and effective program that is appropriate for your situation.
● You have to LOVE what exercise you do because you will need to show up and be passionate and consistent with it. And showing up can be the hardest part. For me, if I had to run a 5K as my exercise regimen, I would be in BIG trouble. Choose an exercise you love.
● Mix it up. Try different things. My exercise toolbox includes boxing, HIIT, strength training, kayaking, and dancing.
● Use Music - a loud and decisive beat can bring you up. If you know the words, sing them loudly and strengthen your voice. Don’t let Parkinson’s take your voice. Many people exercise better with music.
● Try games. Playing games together can incorporate elements that some experts think will help neuroplasticity - neuroplasticity is a fancy word for exercising for your brain. It’s important to build your brain as well as your body. The brain and the body should be treated as a team and they both need to be utilized in the fight for improved symptoms.
Why should I exercise with others?
Simple— You have accountability if others are with you. Try to find a Parkinson’s exercise group, the camaraderie with the others can prove to be a built-in support group. You can count on each other to improve the compliance and consistency of exercise.
In addition to exercising with other people with Parkinson’s disease, invite your family to participate. Including your family will offer an opportunity to show them you’re doing ok. Seeing is believing. Take every opportunity to reassure them that you’re still fighting for them and for your future as a family.
Does exercising with my family help our relationships?
You also may discover a few new family hobbies as a direct result of your diagnosis— activities you never would have thought would be in your comfort zone. You will find things to do together. My husband, Mike, and I have been taking ballroom dance lessons once a week for over four years. It’s quite fun and looks deceivingly impressive at the local dance “hot spots.” Mike says it best, “It’s not important how you dance. It’s that you dance.”
We also kayak together. Nothing strengthens a relationship more than cheering each other on as we “bumble and stumble” our way in and out of a kayak when we get to shore.
My youngest son, Zachary, helped me teach my virtual zoom boxing classes when he was quarantined at home with us. The folks loved him and it was a great mother-son activity. It was something good that was a result of the COVID pandemic (a silver lining).
Honestly, our family was always strong, but it’s definitely stronger now. Doing things together played a big part in strengthening our relationships.
So, grab your family and friends and get moving. Put on your dancing shoes and your boxing gloves. It’s time to start another round in the fight of your life and most of all, dance like no one is watching.
To read more books and articles by Michael S. Okun MD check on Twitter @MichaelOkun and these websites with blogs and information on his books and http://parkinsonsecrets.com/ #Livingwith Parkinson’s #EndingPD #Parkinsonsecrets #LessonsFromTheBedside
He also serves as the Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation.
To see more on Dr. Indu Subramanian she does live interviews of experts in Parkinson’s for the PMD Alliance.
The blog artist is Jonny Acheson.