Exercise and PD

[Bazillion]

The experts have come up with something we Parkies have been trying to to tell them for a long time, exercise slows down the progression of PD.

medium.com/@cbale/could-gro...

[heidi1]

I am Certified in Delay the Disease - an evidence-based exercise program for Parkinson's. I can tell you from personal experience that exercise does work to delay or even reverse symptoms. Getting your heart rate up at least once a day plus movements that counteract your symptoms daily is key.

You can find a Delay the Disease instructor in your area on their website

Www.delaythedisease.com

[Bazillion in reply to heidi1]

I already do PD warrior and spent a week at the European Parkinsons therapy centre in Italy where after a week of intensive exercise and mindfulness teqniques ,my gait improved my stride improved and my balance improved by more than 15% .I cycle 100kms a week and play 2 hrs tennis twice a week.i have big garden to look after and now 6 yrs diagnosed am still on top of PD I don't need the experts to tell me to exercise I know it helps cos if I have a few days without my symptoms definitely get worse.

[JohnPepper]

I have been a lone voice in the wilderness for the past 15 years. I have been able to overcome most of my Pd symptoms by doing fast walking for the previous 8 years from 1994 to date.

I would much rather do exercise, which makes my whole body healthier and had no serious side effects. In my case my exercise costs me nothing, other than a little envy from those who are not prepared, for various reasons, to commit themselves to regular meaningful exercise.

If you are interested in looking at my profile you will see what you ca do to avoid having expensive surgery to get a natural substance into your brain, which produces it naturally itself.

[PDConscience]

Bazillion, Seems you and JohnPepper (who seems to believe he invented the concept) slept straight through your Phys-Ed class. For those that were paying attention, the beneficial association between exercise and neuroprotection/neuroplasticity has been recognized for decades (a quick PubMed search produces 66 pages of studies - by the experts - as far back as early 80s). NOWHERE, however, does anybody (but Pepper) claim its ability to bring about disease "reversal".

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?te...

[paddyfields in reply to PDConscience]

Buried in the mountains of published studies and recognised, i.e. in the forefront of the neuro's etc.'s thinking is not exactly the same thing. I for one am glad that common-sense led me to re-invent the wheel as you would no doubt see it upon my diagnosis 8 years ago based on knowing about the success of conductive education, stroke rehab etc etc.. Not once has my neuro recommended exercise of any kind. Not is it recorded in the prestigious long term study of PD I am a volunteer for.

I'm no expert in the field but I would question the blanket phrase "for decades". As far as I know,, the acknowledgement of plasticity in adult brains has only been acknowledged in the past decade.

A big source of argument as i see it i s something which mystifies me, .i.e. the inability of otherwise intelligent people to distinguish between improvements in outward symptoms/functioning and quality of life from the progress of the disease itself . This applies to other conditions as well.and leads to pointless "tis/tisn't" arguments. between people at cross-purposes and/or entrenched positions.

My first reaction to the first post was "experts in the bleeding obvious" but I can quite see why double blind-studies are the go ld standard when spending pubilc money.

I could go on....I probably have!!!

[JosieDubbel in reply to paddyfields]

Donot like your negative way of thinking . We are in here together. No reason to be so cynical. Everybody does his or her best to make the best of it

[paddyfields in reply to JosieDubbel]

JosieDubbel. I am sorry you have not understood that my post was intended a defence of Brazillon and John Parkers contributions. I see you are recent member and will not know that there is a history of shooting down certain members posts in a rather personal way. If you have read the original post and myy intention is not apparent in what I wrote, I do not see any benefit in my attempting to explain and digging myself a bigger hole

[GymBag in reply to paddyfields]

Paddyfields , I like your style but really who cares who likes it and who does not, Its your style. maybe best to just ignore and move on . Note he disliked your way of thinking.

Be Happy

Formerly known as GymBag

[JosieDubbel in reply to PDConscience]

I am not new at all. Just donot like your cynical style. Because of this negativity I leave the site often for what it is . I like John Peppers contrbutions and of course he is not the only one telling us we have got to move but he has good intentions

[Bazillion in reply to JosieDubbel]

I don't think he's being cynical. We should know our bodies inside out ,what makes us worse what makes us improved, and for a lot of folks exercise works. There is a lot of info on the net that gives false hope and asks for a lot of money for it, save your money, exercise is free!

Specialists have finally woken up to the fact that PD is a complex disease there is no one size fits all . They say they are going to listen more and involve us more in our treatments .We need to be less complacent ,ask more questions and take control of PD.

Remember we are living with it 24/7 they see us once or twice a year for 30 mins.

With technology ,like fit bits , smart phones and apps, it is getting easier to record our symptoms and activities on a daily basis so they and us can actually see how we are doing .

Its only when you actually start recording activity that you realise you aren't doing as much as you think Or what you are actually capable of.

[Bazillion in reply to PDConscience]

Have you lost the thread? I mearly said that according to a lot of people who post on this site without exercise our PD would be a lot worse.We have worked this out for ourselves

At no time have I implied it reverses PD . Have known for years it improves symptoms see

theracycle.com/articles/pub...

[Kimbo1962 in reply to PDConscience]

What a Nasty comment about John Pepper, who by the way selflessly gives talks and assistance without charge to others with PD. It may be simple for you to comment on how everyone knows how exercise has been recognised for decades but quite another putting it into practice when as a PD sufferer you have difficulty in putting one foot in front of another most days. John has actually helped my hubby and continues to encourage and support without any form of financial gain. He has shown him how to overcome the thought process when doing every day tasks. Unless you have actually seen John in person and how much he has helped others I would keep your negative thoughts to yourself. I notice you do not take any time to give any pro active encouragement to PD sufferers instead take the time to slam someone who does nothing but support and encourage others. I find your condescending statement about for those paying attention actually insulting. Most PD sufferers I know just didn't realise how important exercise and the right thought process when doing exercise with PD helps, all the doctors wanted to do was medicate. All the studies by experts have STILL not found a cure, was the 66 pages of research done by a PD sufferer? I bet not......John has lived with it for decades and spends all his time when asked giving back information from his experiences to encourage and assist. Shame on you for instead of saying yes John Pepper is right about exercise you took the time to place your sarcastic comment about phys ed class. He has taught his brain to think differently about how he moves.....just remarkable....I know him and have seen him and still get encouragement whenever we need it from a man now in his 80's who runs marathons..so PD conscience get off your high horse and give others constructive advise instead of knocking others...

[Bazillion in reply to Kimbo1962]

I too have met John Pepper and wether or not people believe he has PD he ihas devoted his time to encouraging PWP to get off their butts and do more to help themselves.

Few people today in the U.K. Take regular exercise so when a diagnosis of PD is made and they are told that exercise is as important as medication it must be a very difficult pill to swallow. I live in a small village where people drive to the postbox and a walk is to the end of the road to let the dog off the lead for a pee!

They think I'm super fit doing 100km a week on my bike 2 hrs tennis twice a week and 10000 steps a day.

If you have done it all your life it's normal!

The fitter you are the easier it is to overcome problems both mentally and physically in life generally and especially with a long term disease.