Good evening gang. Would you like to let me know on whether there’s much point in your opinion in pursuing both of these? I’m asking because I tried to make stretching a daily activity a few months ago but became defeated when I woke up the next day as stiff a board and wondered what the point was if muscles reverted to a rigid state within hours. Similarly my balance has deteriorated recently and I’m wondering if balance exercises play a role here or whether the disease process is so overwhelming that any efforts to challenge it generally fail.
Thanks 🙏
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jeeves19
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Yes, the disease will most likely progress in spite of stretching and balance exercises, but surely they help (make life a little more tolerable along the way.) To stop exercising is to throw in the towel and I don't think you want to do that. We all get discouraged, but we need to fight it every day.
I think they help and once you stop stretching it’s harder to get back to where you were. It’s important to be limber enough to get up from the floor.
I got tired of struggling to turn in bed and waking up uncomfortably stiff so I started taking Celebrex before bed, along with slow release melatonin and CBD oil. The stiffness is markedly reduced.
PD is exhausting both mentally and physically but we must not give up the fight!
I will try that medication on my husband, His exercise routine has been non existent the past week or so. He can hardly walk the length of the kitchen even with the aid of his walking frame. This morning, with the aid of the electric bed, it has taken me 20 minutes to get him sat up. His arm aches and his upper body muscles are stiff so he can’t help himself push up. He has been so positive and in good spirits the past 10 months but this morning he uttered a few words of negativity I can’t repeat !*!* . We are seeing a Movement Disorder Specialist next Thursday so I am hoping for a miracle. They do happen don’t they ? x
My husband was quite weak for a few days. We didn't think it was a UTI. Then I remembered a friend having an issue with electrolytes. Bought hubby a bottle of Gatorade. He felt much better in one day.
Good luck with the Movement Disorder Specialist. Hubby went to one recently and she didn't believe in supplements or vitamins. Her thing was nutrition. That's when I looked up exercising for PWP and found Don Fiore.
Husband takes CB oil when he wakes up. States helps his stiffness. Recently started Tai Chi with Don Fiore designed for the elderly and PWP. Can find his videos on Youtube. He enjoys doing the Tai Chi.
I also find my body reacts badly to stretching . Chi kung on the other hand keeps me mobile and alive. Dancing helps with both balance gait and slowing progression...bowen therapy if you can get it is really good for pain...
Just to say I have been diagnosed just under 10 years exercise is definitely the future wether it be cycling walking or a stretching it can only help to put yourself in a better place pd is a constant daily battle I find any stretching is a great start to the day
Hi Adam, if you do then do it gently gently, so if its only half a stretch on the first day and then 2/3rds and then a full stretch or movement (you get the idea), work up to it with baby steps. Exercise kicks the parasympathetic nervous system into gear, PD is your body stuck in fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system), this is what you want to happen, the PS nervous system cools down the sympathetic nervous system. So no...... movement and exercise actually shouldn't progress the PD...but dude you know what will ? Stressing ...... so good thing this forum is here so you can ask questions and get the advice.
Don't stop movin mate ... that's giving into the PD
The current recommended exercise guidelines for people with Parkinson's is 150 mins of moderate working towards high intensity exercise a week. Also additionally 2 hours of strengthening and balance training. parkinsons.org.uk/sites/def...
Balance training will improve your balance with Parkinson's and reduce your risk of falls. Here's just one of many published papers:
Also if you are expected to follow the exercise prescription then stretch is essential, not only to help reduce rigidity but also to keep your muscles primed and joint range to a maximum to allow you to continue exercising at the recommended dose.
I would always recommend dynamic stretching rather than static stretches with Parkinson's. The best time to stretch is when you are warm, following exercise or after a massage (if you like them!)
Agree. Challenging our abilities makes use of neuroplasticity to compensate for any losses. I challenge my balance in various ways, including simple things like putting on shorts or socks while standing unsupported on one foot - when I am up for it,
I want to try a different type of stretch, it's a stretch-therapist. They work in dual with you, very interesting. Check out the website and look at the "find a stretch therapist" tab and see if there's one in your area.
Stretching is very necessary and should also follow with a exercise routine. When Covid hit and the guns closed I ordered several video tapes from Grow Young. I do these every day, and it’s not something I need to force myself to do but because it works out my stiffness and aches and pains. My favorite is Knee Therapy. All workouts contain band exercises and the bands are included and are 15-18 minutes long. It includes a morning stretch and a night stretch and a hip routine and 6 knee workouts. I strongly recommend that and if you like you can also get the following videos - Core, Cardio, Strength, Chair Boxing, chair yoga. I have all of these and choose a different one each day. These are not Parkinson’s videos yet they are for seniors. When I first started doing them I was thinking they were easy. But they work on proper breathing, balance, and warm up and cool down. And besides I’m 2 years further into my Parkinson’s and they aren’t as easy anymore. Diagnosed 2012. Most likely due to symptoms had since 2009.
Hi A! If someone said all this and I missed it, apologies.
I think you should continue both. I think stretching has a cumulative effect. I've found that even when I was healthy and zipping through dance and yoga classes, the immediate benefits quit as soon as my muscles got "cold." However, in general, I was more flexible than the non-stretchers. And I'm not a flexible person at all. Also, don't men tend to struggle more with flexibility? Another note: I was in my 40s --so my benefits weren't attributable to youth. (Although I'm sad to say, that 40s seem so young now!)
I know that all rules and wonderful things go crashing out the window with PD, but I still think stretching helps. For balance, same? Your balance may be better than your peers' balance. I have to remind myself that I'm not EVER going to be comparable or close to an Olympic athlete. I'm also finding that the balance work generally doesn't keep me upright or stop the balance issue from worsening, but it seems to help with recovery before the fall (not always), plus a little flexibility that might help in a pinch too.
Do you think your body might be "bored" and not challenged? Have you tried dynamic stretching too? Someone mentioned Feldenkrais. That's supposed to be really helpful.
So maybe also try something very different (but safe)?
Wow, I'm ashamed to say that I'm tempted to take a nap after that burst of brilliance haha. I think of PD as the "tired disease" some days.
The best time for streching is after a brief warm up like walking . If you strech while your body isn’t warm enough it will create more stifness and pain. One more thing is saying no to meat. Using a foam roller before stretching is quite helpful. At least it has to be every other day if not every day. Because we have PD , our muscles become stiff sooner compared to a healthy individual.When stretching paying attention to the area under strech helps to teach those muscles to be prepared and learn for the future sessions. I use extra firm RUMBLEROLLER before stretching. In the beginning was painful but gradually I used to it.
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