The most important health tip IMO - Cure Parkinson's

Cure Parkinson's

26,583 members27,899 posts

The most important health tip IMO

rescuema profile image
24 Replies

Why you should move — even just a little — throughout the day; Sitting for long, uninterrupted periods of time may leave you more prone to cardiovascular problems.

health.harvard.edu/heart-he...?

I tend to be guilty of being sedentary myself since I'm a voracious reader. I've been using more of the "Text-to-Speech" feature on Kindle so that I could listen to my books doing little chores while moving around. Being less sedentary is more important than doing strenuous exercises just a few times a day while being a couch potato the rest of the time. The healthiest old folks I know are constantly on the move and don't sit around for long well into their 90s.

Written by
rescuema profile image
rescuema
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
24 Replies
chartist profile image
chartist

You're absolutely right!

I have to make myself get up regularly and go up and down the stairs every so often to keep things flowing properly. It's just that sometimes it's easy for hours to slip by "quietly" unless I make a conscious effort to get up and move around regularly. I remember reading an article that suggested that constant activity has value for PwP and I don't doubt that at all!

Art

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply tochartist

It'd be very boring to spy on us with a video camera, wouldn't it?

At one point, I even bought myself a mini trampoline so that I could do some jumping jacks every 30 minutes or so through a timer app. Bouncing on a trampoline can drastically improve oxygen circulation to your brain but it still does not make up for the benefits of engaging your muscles and improving insulin sensitivity, so now I do pushups or squats on top if not moving around doing chores.

Insulin resistance has a strong correlation with high inflammation, high uric acid levels (muscle and joint stiffness/arthritis), high triglycerides, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration beyond the cardiovascular risks, so definitely applicable for PD. If you have dark pigmentation around your neck or skin folds (acanthosis nigricans), skin tags, cellulite, abdominal fat, dyslipidemia or high LDL cholesterol, etc., you're likely insulin resistant even if not diagnosed prediabetic.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

pacificneuroscienceinstitut...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

sharoncrayn profile image
sharoncrayn in reply torescuema

Linking your response to MBA back to this post...Rescue said:

"so that I could do some jumping jacks every 30 minutes or so"...

"Bouncing on a trampoline can drastically improve oxygen circulation to your brain but it still does not make up for the benefits of engaging your muscles and improving insulin sensitivity".

Your workout on your rebounder (it is not a trampoline per se) sounds really weak in light of your global conclusion. A 15 minute "high jump" session intermixed with fast speed running will blow your legs apart at the seams, let alone any leg muscles you might still have from your youth. Even if you run or bike daily. Believe me.

Sharon

Gioc profile image
Gioc in reply tosharoncrayn

Rescuema, after this of Sharon you are left with only gardening.

You can grow tomatoes grafted on potatoes, which I do not recommend because you will not get one or the other.(My experiment as a teenager, but still now someone sells similar grafts on the web)

But you remember that no horticulturist eats what he sends to supermarkets but grows it separately, the quality has costs.

Gardening ancient art sometimes dangerous.

pompeionline.net/edifici/re...

LOL it's Saturday take a break! :-)

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply toGioc

Gio, I still do gardening but it can be very high stress on your body compared to other purposeful exercises. At one point when I was really engaged with gardening, I was always hurting all over all the time so I had to tone it down. I do agree that it's a very good hobby for those who enjoy it and have time for it.

Gioc profile image
Gioc in reply torescuema

I agree,I was not serious.

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply toGioc

Let's see - I planted over dozen apple trees, 3 peach trees, 4 chestnuts, 2 pecans, 5 Asian pears, 5 cherries, 17 blueberry bushes, etc not counting all the other ornamental trees/bushes. Can you see why I was hurting? I also do raised beds with tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, along with several beds of asparagus, herbs & vegs. I'm a veteran of gardening, LOL.

Squirrels steal all my pecans, peach, and pears. Have yet to harvest any decent organic apple because of rust and bugs, but growing apples organically is almost impossible around where I live, so I might chop them down and plant something else.

Of all my plants, I love harvesting blueberries and chestnuts the most and find them most rewarding. I harvest Mara Des Bois strawberries all season long off my deck planters.

Gioc profile image
Gioc in reply torescuema

Rescuema,

Ah, I understand.You are a Really a specialized gardener I see.Lots of life all around..., very laborious.

But gardening prolongs your life!

You plant a small plant today with the idea that it will grow in the future with your participation and interest.

So the future is predicted, while reading a newspaper today or a post by Sharon you don't think you have a future at all.

(Sharon don't get angry I do only a bad irony). :-)

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply toGioc

When I planted my highly researched best-tasting pecan trees many years ago, I had my plans and high hope for future harvests. Never expected the damn squirrel to steal them all while they're still green - there's no way around this but don't want to kill the critters.

I planted the blueberry bushes for harvesting and also to attract bluebirds, but birds are greedy and try to steal all of them before ripe so I have to net all the bushes tediously every season. The birds still get my cherries, pears, holly/dogwood berries, etc., especially all the ground level strawberries. I have tons of bluebirds now.

I agree. People who enjoy gardening tend to live long healthy lives - may not be the gardening itself but all philosophies around it and the type of people who enjoy it.

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply tosharoncrayn

Jumping on a rebounder is very low impact so it definitely won't "blow your legs apart at the seams." Have you ever tried it? Besides, did you miss that I said it wasn't enough?

"Trampolining is a low impact exercise. A jumper's vertical acceleration and deceleration is absorbed by the trampoline mat, taking up to 80% of the shock. In comparison, hard surfaces like roads have no “give”. Trampolining protects your joints while exercising your muscles."

"According to a study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, working out on a trampoline is 68 percent more efficient at increasing heart rate compared with running on a treadmill. The trampoline surface absorbed 80 percent of the shock – giving it an advantage over running or jumping on a hard surface."

google.com/search?rlz=1CAMW...

sharoncrayn profile image
sharoncrayn in reply torescuema

Res,

I'm a fitness freak.

I have a 48 inch "Fit bounce Pro II". Highly recommend it. Wonderful. It will blow your legs apart doing "high jumps" for 15 minutes. (try running afterwards!) Believe me... (assuming you have the endurance to get to 15 minutes). Mini rebounders like what you have are junk for little kids. Move on up. Spend some money.

"low impact" is a relative term. Compared to running on concrete or asphalt? Wow. Such brilliant insight. Of course it is. Running on concrete/asphalt is insanity.

A rebounder is NOT a mini trampoline, but I digress.

Sharon

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply tosharoncrayn

Why in the world would you high jump on a rebounder harshly for 15 minutes until you blow your legs when you’re supposed to take advantage of the shock absorption while improving your lymphatic flow and circulation. That’s not very smart and it seems you definitely overdid it wouldn’t you say?

sharoncrayn profile image
sharoncrayn in reply torescuema

Good points, I basically agree. 5 minutes is probably enough.

MarionP profile image
MarionP

Couldn't agree more. Do as much as you can, no need to have lots of strenuous marathons or torture, and many scientific studies have demonstrated that moderate frequent exercise takes you a long long way. The definitions of moderate are even generous and easy to meet, much less horrible than one might imagine. Do some reading, do some looking around, and find how actually palatable and achievable as an easy routine it can be.

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply toMarionP

Exactly. There's not much value in pushing yourself too hard to "torture" since you can create stressful negative emotions and refuse to re-engage to slowly build rewarding habits. Baby steps, but motivate yourself to do "something" other than sitting around.

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345

I'd add to that do lots of stretches too. Whenever you think of it bend sideways at the waist, twist,rotate your neck, swing your arms, whatever to keep that lymphatic fluid moving around!

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply toLAJ12345

I agree. Qi Gong comes to mind that’s perfect for that while incorporating deep breathing and meditation. Many free videos available on YouTube and Prime.

laglag profile image
laglag

I exercise on a Rebounder when I can't go to Rock Steady & I love it. I bought mine from JB Bern's in 2003. It came with around 13 dvd's & a balance bar. He explains that when using a rebounder you are pushing down rather than jumping up that's why it's low impact. I never felt it hurting my joints at all. It's a very good exercise & I feel much better when I finish.

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply tolaglag

I know what you mean. I do jumping jacks on it and hardly feel any impact on my joints but I could definitely feel the magnified vertical force on my organs more than on a floor. A great way to help the lymphatic system even for those who're challenged with movement.

Early research indicates glymphatic functioning improves following exercise.”

discover.vumc.org/2019/08/t...

"The results suggest that brain lymphatic clearance dysfunction may be an aggravating factor in PD pathology."

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/308...

sharoncrayn profile image
sharoncrayn in reply torescuema

Rebounding every day (at at leaast a little bit) definitely helps the lymph flow.

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply tosharoncrayn

True that! ✌️

sharoncrayn profile image
sharoncrayn in reply torescuema

discover.vumc.org/2019/08/t... Thanks for the link.

Frankly, I would think rebounding would prove more beneficial, or preferably the classic "4 hand" exercise versus Rock steady Boxing. Perhaps the RSB incorporates a lot of punching with foot movements.

I just don't know. I would like to see a more scientific evaluation.

laglag profile image
laglag in reply tosharoncrayn

Rock Steady Boxing works to improve your symptoms. I know from experience. I've had 14 yrs of experience and it's helped me and I've see it helping be hundreds of others. This pandemic is not helping much. We' be had to shut down a couple of times and everyone feels much better when we start back again. I'm at an affliate now that's been open for approximately 5 years and a couple of us were looking around at everyone in the gym and said, Look at all of us, we've been together 5 years and noone has really progressed much, if at all.

rescuema profile image
rescuema in reply tosharoncrayn

The benefit I suspect the RSB has over the more "passive" rebounding is that it activates the brain - fight or flight, multitasking, coordination, etc. The much more interactive vigorous physical activity engages muscles and pumps up the HR to increase GDNF/BDNF along with other hormones. When I do DIY projects around my house using dangerous power tools, I sweat like a donkey even with much less physical muscle activities just by pushing the sympathetic nervous system or conscious fear, something I could never achieve with more passive exercises.

protein.bio.msu.ru/biokhimi...

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Hi Everyone I`m still here!!! :-)

Hi All :-) I hope you are all doing ok :-) Sorry I`ve not been on for a while...just...
AndyC profile image

Sluggish lymphatic drainage can make your PD worse

Do you have a few of the below symptoms? You might have a clogged or insufficient lymphatic...
rescuema profile image

Quercetin/Bromelain peak tissue absorption time

I'm using q/b to accompany natural sourced and standardized levodopa. First day, today. It went...
BUZZ1397 profile image

6 Important Supplements To Fight Peripheral Neuropathy

People with Parkinson's disease (PwP) are at increased risk for getting Peripheral Neuropathy (PN)....
chartist profile image

Moderation team

See all
CPT_Aleksandra profile image
CPT_AleksandraAdministrator
CPT_Anaya profile image
CPT_AnayaAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.