Effects of exercise

[bluerabbit0]

Hi everyone, my name is Maxi and I am currently trying to figure out which exercise types can help reduce PD typical symptoms as an alternative or addition to medication. Does anyone have personal experience with the effects of exercise? Any improvements in Bradykinesia for example? Looking very much forward to learning about your experience.

[park_bear]

I do one hour of vigorous outdoor exercise daily and it makes a big difference.

The best exercise for you would be the one that you like to do because that will motivate you to keep at it.

[bluerabbit0 in reply to park_bear]

Thanks a lot for the recommendation. Actually I was not asking for myself - I probably should have said that right in the beginning - but for my father who was diagnosed with PD a few years ago and primarily suffers from rigidity, slowness and pain in his left arm. I am trying to help him figure out what kind of therapy would be the best for him so your answer pushes me into the right direction!

[Zella23]

My husband likes walking so goes out for about an hour every day and walks as fast as he can - now added in bouncing a tennis ball when on flat ground.

Before lockdown used a static bike and treadmill at the gym a few times a week. Has exercises for PD from European Parkinsons, uses Smovey rings at home also a wooden pole he walks with throwing it up in the air and catching it alternating the hand grip. He also has exercises from the physiotherapist for helping his neck and back.

I think they all help with keeping mobility and coordination.

[bluerabbit0 in reply to Zella23]

Thank you so much for your answer. This sounds like a great routine.

[kaypeeoh]

I may not be the best one to answer. I've had a hand tremor for nearly 4 years. Four months or so I started noticing balance problems. For winter exercise I would walk on a half-mile path. I wore a backpack with a 30 pound weight. I tried Sinemet but stopped because I wasn't seeing any benefit. I changed to dopamine agonist Amantadine but still no change in the hand tremor or balance problem.

One week ago I had surgery to remove a calcium deposit that was stabbing my Achilles tendon. It involved using a chisel to break the spur off the heel bone. So now I'm on the couch with my leg in a cast. I understand exercise helps PD. The more exercise, the better. I've done HIIT for years. Basically you get your heart rate to 90% or more of maximum and maintain effort for 30 seconds, then recover for 90 seconds. Do it eight times. I use a treadmill for the HIIT. I straddle the belt as it speeds up. First I set the incline to 8%. Then set the speed to 7MPH. Then jump onto the moving belt and try not to be thrown off for 30 seconds. Then jump back to straddling the belt and monitor my heart rate. By 90 seconds the heart rate is slow enough to stand another sprint.

I got this from Dr Mercola. In his videos he first used a stationary bike but ultimately switched to an elliptical trainer. He told me the treadmill would lead to injury. But it was the only way I was able to get my heart rate to maximum. I guess now I'm paying for my hubris.

[bluerabbit0 in reply to kaypeeoh]

Thank you for giving such a detailed answer! I'm sorry to hear from your injury... hopefully you can go back to handling things as usual and a new training routine very soon. I heard a lot of good things about the safety and effectiveness of Cycling (especially fast pedaling with low resistance) - perhaps that is an option for you to get back at training safely and still reach maybe 80% of your maximal HR? best wishes for a speedy recovery

[Sapeye2020]

Scooped by park bear, yes the best exercise is the one you want to do and keep doing!

I am a swimmer. I used to do the crawl primarily, but when the PD DIAg was given I started to do all backstroke to work on my PD head drop. It works but takes a lot of time with the acupuncturist and the massage therapist who also does Oesteopathy. That is the winter and summer I get the dog to take me on a mile jaunt , uphill and down in16 to 19 minutes, gets me up to 120 bpm in. Close to my maximum, am 71. Rest of movement is building a new house and garden from scratch as well as cutting fire wood for the winter.

HTH.

[bluerabbit0 in reply to Sapeye2020]

Wow. That is amazing. Do you feel like swimming backstroke also helps reduce other symptoms? Loved to hear from you, your motivation and activity level is very impressive.

[Sapeye2020 in reply to bluerabbit0]

The hardest thing with PD is the lethargy followed by apathy.

Once you get moving and the stiffness subsides the rest is relatively easy.

If you exercise till you are having " NO ENETGY LEFT" talk to your Neuro and ask about taking 1/2 or 1 whole IR Sinamet. I do that before swimming if I am feeling less than normal.

As a side bar I believe I have had PD for more than 30 years but attributed the issues to a serious car accident ie stuff muscles, that never were relaxed.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Bluerabbit

I was diagnosed with Pd in 1992, I took sinemet & symmetrel for two years without any improvement. I started doing fast walking in 1994 and changed my medication to an MAOb inhibitor in 1994 and in 2002 I came off the medication and have lived a normal life since then. I am now 85 years old and still doing the fast walking.

[bluerabbit0]

Dear JohnPepper, it sounds like you have found a fabulous way to deal with PD. I am very happy to hear that. Have you met any other patients yet who have experienced a similar effect of fast walking?