According to a study that tracked 237 patients over a five-year period, those with early-stage Parkinson’s disease who were more active had better physical outcomes than less active people with the disease. “Higher physical activity levels were strongly associated with better functioning in activities of daily living, cognitive processing speed, posture stability, balance, and gait,” Dr. Tinaz says.
Other research shows that high-intensity exercise appears to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers asked patients to engage in high-intensity exercises (cycling or using treadmills) three times a week for six months. They assessed the study participants’ motor symptoms before and after the six-month period. They also compared the participants’ progress to other Parkinson’s patients who didn’t participate in the high-intensity exercise program.