Reverse Parkinson’s

[Armyman]

Has anyone had success John Peppers theory of reversing Parkinson’s symptoms through fast walking

[stocktiki]

Definitely think walking and exercise helps control symptoms, but personally it hasn't reversed them for me. Sometimes I worry I'm not walking fast enough. I walk about 16 minutes per mile.

[Armyman]

good job, do you walk daily

[Boscoejean]

My husband used to do fairly fast walking up and down the road for many years and it seems like it did slow his progression because he had a slight tremor in the early to mid 90s and we initially thought he might have essential tremor and the neurologist was not willing to say if he thought he had essential tremor or Parkinson's in 2017. He did lose his sense of smell around 2014. He still walks but not as fast. It does seem to be helpful. He also rides the exercise bike and does chair qi gong following a DVD. He does a few other Parkinson specific exercises.

[Farooqji in reply to Boscoejean]

It seems a very slow progression if the symptoms had appeared in 90s

[Armyman in reply to Farooqji]

Agreed, it appears it’s worked for him. Did he walk everyday?

[LindaP50 in reply to Boscoejean]

Any type of exercise will help. Fast, slow, just keep moving. Keeps the blood flowing, the mind working, muscles moving, and can boost dopamine levels.

[Zella23]

My husband walks everyday but not particularly fast as he has a bad back and his leg muscles often feel weak.

It does ease his back with the movement. It’s one thing he does every day sometimes quite a few miles. His average steps according to his phone have gone up this year. He’s been dx 9 years.

I suppose it’s debatable in his case as to whether it helps slow progression, I think it definitely helps. Had PD symptoms since 2012 but didn’t know it was. Still on low meds though. Too much and dyskinesia gets worse.

[jeeves19]

Nope….

[Dap1948]

I think it’s undisputed that fast walking is very good for your health generally and could slow Parkinson’s progression, but when I started it in about 2014 it didn’t change/improve my symptoms. It took B1 to do that in 2017. I’m still walking 2 miles every other day though.

[CuriousMe12]

I dont think ànything reverses pd. You can maybe slow progression and walking helps. You also need to practice slow walking and maouvering around obstacles.

[Nikkiheat2]

Walking seems to help my husband's tremors but it is pretty far from a cure for him. We did functional medicine testing, probably hundreds of different biomarkers, and he had a lot out of normal range - leaky gut, low uric acid, dehydration, vitamin D deficient and much more. We're working on getting each of those markers back in range and that seems to be helping a lot, similar to the Dale Breseden approach for improving Alzheimer's. I just don't see fast walking alone as having the same impact as correcting 20 - 30 out of range, diverse lab test scores, at least in my husband's case.

[LindaP50 in reply to Nikkiheat2]

Any type of movement helps! Good for you to attack each issue and work on getting them back in range for your hubby. A good goal. When my husband's lab reports arrive, I go through each line one by one and match with the previous month to keep track of what we need to watch. For instance, making sure his uric acid levels don't rise which can cause gout.

Our Parkinson's Journey is a road map, our pathway to live each day with intent. We try to add joy, laughter, relaxation, fun, exercise (includes chair exercise as his balance continues to worsen), listen to calming music, listen to happy dance/type music, spend some of our hard-earned retirement money, try to learn something new to keep the brain going, whatever we can do to not get swallowed up in the disease - and instead take control the best we can. It's not easy and some days we both just veg out and enjoy time at home indoors.

We can't reverse PD but can certainly work on slowing the progression and living a good life together. And, if you can fast walk, do it! Do what works for you and your PWP.

[Ghmac in reply to LindaP50]

You get monthly blood tests? Through convential Dr? Insurance? Or?

[LindaP50 in reply to Ghmac]

Hubby gets quarterly blood tests due to another medical condition which is covered by insurance. Unrelated to PD.

[Healthynotwealthy]

I can't talk from experience but I did look into this method when researching for my mum. If you look at his method it is more than just fast walking, it is the focus on the whole thought process behind it. I believe that others who have shown absolute dedication to novel tasks have been able to also see benefits. A study of John Pepper appears in the book The Brain that Changes by Norman Doidge (neurologist). I think for some people it works.

[Pixelpixie in reply to Healthynotwealthy]

Seems to

Me it’s not really a reversal. The cognitive function changed from automatic to “mindfulness.” But if that works, wonderful!

[Ghmac in reply to Healthynotwealthy]

Dr. Mischley mentioned John Pepper to us. Apparently they have met.

[Salted]

The combination of physical therapy and fast walking has improved my gait, balance, and energy levels. I walk and move a lot more quickly now. I experience less rigidity/stiffness. Other symptoms, like tremor, are about the same, maybe a little worse than in the past. I think fast walking/exercise can actually reverse some symptoms and slow the progression of PD, but it is not a cure.

[Gcf51]

agree

[JayPwP]

JohnPepper what do you say?

I agree with Healthynotwealthy comment above