Has anyone experienced an improvement from exercise?
Exercise: Has anyone experienced an... - Cure Parkinson's
Exercise
Written by
Beckey
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
48 Replies
•
I feel tired yet better, in particular after a vigorous one hour daily walk.
2019 Conference Slides
med.stanford.edu/adrc/event...
Alzheimer’s and Exercise
Frank M. Longo, MD, PhD at Stanford University
- Exercise – how much? 30 min/day 5d/week - moderate levels ~40% reduced risk
- Walking reverses of Hippocampal Age-related Atrophy!
- Physical activity effects on cognitive measures in dementia
I know "studies have shown," and "experts say," but what has your personal experience been, comrades?
Hi Beckey, great question! My experience is that my ability to exercise has improved. For example, I was new to yoga 18 months ago and found it hard work because I was quite stiff. As my flexibility and balance improved with practice and time, my yoga sessions have now become enjoyable and rewarding. However, I don’t think my PD symptoms have got better: I can tell from my Off periods that the rigidity and slowness are still very much present. What’s improved is the quality of my On time because the quality of my activities, from exercising to cooking, has improved.
I have been exercising intensely for at least an hour 6 to 7 days/week. I have been exercising before PD most of my life at least x3/week. I was diagnosed in 2013 with a little tremor in right hand and some rigidity on upper right side; that slowed my swimming. I didn't take any meds for 4 years and now taking 1/2 Sinemet x3/day. I still have tremor in my right hand; a little worse and very occasionally feel in my left hand.
I cannot say that exercise has improved any symptom; however, there is no way to know if it has slowed progression or delayed other symptoms.
One thing is that I feel energized and sleep great! I am able to hike up to 8miles up climbing 1500ft and can swim for up to 50 mins.
Complementary Therapies in Parkinson’s Disease
Veronica Santini, MD at Stanford University
med.stanford.edu/content/da...
Exercise:
- Associated with lower risk of Parkinson development
- Has been shown to improve disease symptoms:
Mobility, balance, and gait
Quality of Life
- Neuroprotective effects may be expected in PD as suggested by animal studies, but further research is needed
Vitamins E, C, B12, B6, CoQ10, Folate
Mucuna
Amino acids, Glutathione
Tai Chi, Balance
I’m terribly inconsistent, but when I do work out (stationary bike and weights)) after a few days I notice more fluid movement and an improved mood.
From: helen@cureparkinsons.org.uk
Date Time: Jan 8, 2020 05:30 PM London
Description: Register for our webinar on Wednesday 8th January 17:30-18:30 UK time.
The Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, The Cure Parkinson’s Trust and Parkinson’s Movement is delighted to invite you to join us for our next Webinar on 8th January 2020 (5.30 pm GMT / 12.30 pm EST).
This webinar will discuss recent publications around the theme of Exercise in Parkinson’s. The eminent panel, once again chaired by Van Andel Institute’s Professor Patrik Brundin comprises clinical expertise from Professor Bas Bloem (Radboud University Medical Centre, Netherlands), pre-clinical expertise from Dr Jakowec (University of Southern California) and patient views from Professor Karen Raphael, an epidemiological research scientist.
Space is limited to 100 live participants, but the recordings will be available online afterwards.
There is research being done at the Cleveland Clinic on intense cycling. I ride 80-100 miles a week. My condition has been static since diagnosis in 2014. I feel better when I ride.
Exercise has improved my posture, arm swing, agility, balance, and gait. I do fast walking an hour five times a week on a treadmill with incline and speed set high enough to reach 80% of max heart rate. I also do tai chai and the Parkinsons Wellness Recovery exercises every day. I also do some resistance exercises most days. Also spend some time playing my drums. Obviously, I’m retired.
I’ve mostly eliminated tremor. I attribute that to carbidopa/levodopa.
I got voice/speech under control although the problems return if I go very long without doing the LVT Loud exercises.
Something has improved my brain fog and executive function issues. I would guess it correlates with increased exercise intensity but I am not very confident of that.
My facial discomfort, mask, and weird smile have continued to worsen. Not a terrible symptom, but I am surprised neither c/l nor exercise make a difference for these symptoms.
I am only about 3 years into this journey so maybe my experience doesn’t mean much.
Sure. I get tired but next day is always better. The physical state benefits obviously last a while (strength, agility etc). The anti-PD effects are short lived so you need to keep at it. Cycling is best for me. Gets my heart rate up to 80%max reliably. The anti-PD effects are better with high intensity but you need to do HI carefully (I have had a few injuries which set me back each time!) best Kevin
I fast walk, usually outdoors on hilly terrain, at least 2 miles per day. On a good day I do 4 Miles. I do tai chi workout two hours, three times /week. Yoga class 1.25 hrs at least one time per week. I work out @ gym 3x per week. There’s no doubt in my mind when I keep the exercise routine up I feel much better. When I slack off symptoms get worse. Most of my symptoms, eg gait, posture, arm swing, facial paralysis, are markedly improved since 2017 diagnosis. The exception is tremor, which is getting worse. Karen Raphael is my hero and role model.
I definitely feel better when I exercise consistently. I go to the gym or hike every day (rarely miss a day) averaging around 1.5 hours per day. When at the gym, I do 50 min. on the elliptical trainer at fairly high intensity (I sweat like crazy) and then strength and flexibility exercises. When I hike, I spend around 25 minutes climbing uphill and also sweat a lot. Recently I went on a 2 1/2 week trip and despite walking a lot on most days, by the end I felt tired, foggy and weaker. I had more breakthrough tremor. After around 10 days back to exercising, I was back to feeling pretty good. I've exercised a lot since I was diagnosed 5 years ago, and my progression has been quite slow. Next year I plan to begin HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) -- stepping it up.
Dr. Laurie Mischley's research with several thousand patients has shown that exercise is the most important factor in slowing progression. Minimum 3 days a week makes a difference, and each additional day adds benefit. Intensity makes a difference too (my experience as well). At her summer school she showed a vi=deo of a patient of hers who has been doing physical therapy exercise for a while and the improvement in symptoms was obvious. I don't have the link or remember the name, unfortunatelu.
Yes. I do PD Warrior exercises every morning. Before I started doing them I had to use a stick, couldn't walk down hills and needed help to get up and down kerbs. I also ride an exercise bike. In my "previous life" I ran marathons, but two hip replacements put paid to that. My neurologist says vigorous exercise is the only known way to slow progression.
Hi
I lift weights, 6 days a week.. sometimes 2 times a day.
It's simple if I don't exercise and keep pushing my limits my symptoms that go away reappear.
These reduced symptoms include
1)Tremor management
2)Overall strength to operate normally everyday returns
3)Instabilities in standing and walking disappear
4)Better sleeping and bed movement
5)If I add boxing stiffness and arm swing improve greatly
I don't have face mask issues or loss of any more bodily functions at all, my issues are greatly movement related, I also get greater meds effectiveness and can operate on less meds.
For me continually exercising is far better than no exercise
The reason I continually do weights over cardio/running as many do is I find the bang for buck results for a solid weights session over running demands more from your body and demands more from your central nervous system. Also the scope of what can be done is almost endless where as running is just running
That said and done you need to find what works for you
Oh yes! Range of motion exercises, along with Dalcroze Eurythmics exercise, and specific exercises for people with Parkinson’s, have improved the stiffness, and rigidity, and shakiness that I get. Each day I do exercises to limber me up, and I feel vastly improved, in feeling able to deal with severe arthritis, Cerebellar Ataxia, and Parkinson’s Disease. Also, exercise seems to improve my apathy, and blasé feelings I get, at times!
Absolutely defo recommend it better than any drug by a country mile whether it's cycling walking 👍
Hi Beckey,
I have been exercising most of my adult life so it was easy to continue. I ride a recumbent bike 35-45 minutes 5-7 days/week and mix in light weights 3xs/week. Just started Rock Steady Boxing 3 weeks ago 2xs/week and I don't ride bike on boxing days. My doctor tells me it definitely has helped me and some days I feel great and some days I'm stiff and slower moving. So it's hard to say it's slowing the progression because I have no idea what the progression is suppose to be. Bottom line, I enjoy exercising and I'm happy while doing it and will continue.
Certainly have. 10 minutes of stretching first thing in the morning and 3 days a week in the gym. 40 to 45 mins, walking, strength training, yoga stretching. 4 yrs little or no progression
Yes I only get to the gym once a week but I can tell when it’s about time. I bicycle for 20 minutes do 50 set ups run a bit hit the spa for 15 and whirlpool for 15 occasionally swim a bit it takes about 1 hr and by far isn’t a hard work out but definitely helps me. I enjoy the spa and hot tub for relaxing the muscles I’ll be 65 in January.
I have exercised almost daily for 45 years. For the first 25 years I jogged half an hour a day. Then I had back surgery for blown disks (very successful) and switched to walking for an hour a day at 4 mph. Walking became slower and more difficult, and I was diagnosed with PD (7 years ago), so I cut walking to half an hour three or four days a week and added half an hour on the Theracycle or regular stationary bike. On days I don’t walk I do an hour on the bikes. Also added daily 20 minutes of stretches for PD patients from rehab hospital. I think (and doc agrees) that this is best thing I do for PD.
Becky, 12 years ago I was unable to stand straight, my arm wouldn't swing, etc. I heard about Jay Alberts' Pedaling for Parkinson's program and rode with him and others across Iowa (450 miles) in 2009 and 5 times since. To train, I rode almost every day from 1.5-4 hours and in a month my PD symptoms were gone. They are back of course, but much less than if I had not been cycling. I climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro at age 65 and continue to challenge myself at age 74, still riding nearly every day (inside most of the time now). Exercise is the one thing you can be in charge of that does not involve pharmaceuticals. You have a choice: bike seat or eventually, wheel chair seat.
"You have a choice: bike seat or eventually, wheel chair seat." My sentiment too but I hate bikes. The hard seat is an invitation to scrotal blood clots. So I walk and sometimes run. I use a heart rate monitor and aim for spurts of 90% max.
Thank you, Nan! BTW I'm reading your book now and enjoying it hugely.
Thanks. Hope it helps.
I exercise 5 days a week - Zumba, boxing, spinning, treadmill, and gentle fitness; I also play virtual reality games at home to keep me moving , and Smovey rings on the 2 days I'm not at the gym. I also do the infrared lights - my husband made me 2 different wavelength hats. I take some supplements and am not on any meds . My brain fog has cleared and overall I feel much better than I did since symptoms started almost 3 years ago. I never had any tremors. My issues are stiffness and rigidity and left-side weakness. I also feel my balance has improved. I can definitely say my mood is better as well and I have more interest in doing things.
I found the videos:
That is pretty darned impressive!
Yes, it is. Are you still boxing?
Unfortunately, osteoarthritis in my right hand has made it impossible to box full-out which is disappointing because that is so much fun! I plan to go tomorrow though.
Always. And, push yourself to go a little longer and faster each day . Aunt Bean
Hi Becky,
I have a Personal Training client that has been with me for close to 5 years . we train once a week for 1 hr and in conjunction with his diet and walking 7klm 3 times a week at a pace he has set at 6.8-7.00 kph, there has been no significant change in his condition. hope this helps.
Yes! I hike once a week, I row once a week but I cycle /spin everyday. Previous to my diagnosis I was a spin instructor for 11 years after 7 years of not teaching and diagnosed in 2014 I decided to exercise a little harder and certified myself has an indoor cycling instructor again and it has given me so much physical ability makes me conscious of my strength and agility and makes me feel I can do it all.... but most of all it motivates me especially the music
. How old are you? Becky, if you dont mind me asking .
You can do this!! Power walk,
Eva
Well that seems like a fairly conclusive response overall. Reading what so many others do and their results inspires me to keep exercising though I cant compete with what alot of people here are doing (well I could but don't!) Run 5k a couple times a week, 30 to 40 minute youtube fitness vids, either pk specific or general workouts 2/3 times a week . I feel at the moment I am doing enough to hold fairly steady. 4 yrs in, symptoms pretty mild, some things have improved , some worsened , minimal medication. I think the lesson to take away is no amount of exercise is too much . Congratulations to all the above exercisers on their dedication and will power!
An example of what exercise can do:
Woman’s Hard Work Brings Heart Back To Life
Range of motion stretching and exercises, are most helpful to me. My local PD Society has put out a very helpful list of exercises for those with PD! I use it religiously, and it does help with mobility, stiffness, and smooths jerky movement a bit for me. As far as exercising stopping progression of my PD, that has not happened. I am clearly progressing-having some very bothersome autonomic symptoms, this last couple years. I can’t tell if my exercising has helped to slow the progression I’m experiencing. It doesn’t seem to be!
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
The benefits of exercise
Hey everyone. I’ve always exercised ever since diagnosis but often had a sense of being slightly...
Exercise helps, but how?
forms of exercise can reduce movement complaints in people with Parkinson's disease and improve the...
Boxing as exercise in Parkinson's
would anyone offer support in the theory that Boxing helps with reduction in tremors and any other
Intense exercise increases risk?
exhausting exercises, but I could not justify this thought as in public opinion physical exercise...
Finger exercise question
this from PD or is it more likely from turning 65 years old? There is stiffness and pain from...
breathing exercise and PD symptoms
Levodopa just for exercise?
Anaerobic exercise to increase BDNF
