Thinking about Muhammad Ali

[TheresaCurley]

I had a random thought today.

Everyone knows that Muhammad Ali died at 74 in June of this year and he was in really bad shape from his long term Parkinson's Disease when he passed. I can't help but think that if anyone could have held back the progression of PD with exercise it would have been him.

[Serenity_finaly-1]

According to one of his therapist, he was a beast with his physical therapy.

[TheresaCurley in reply to Serenity_finaly-1]

Not sure whether being a 'beast' is good or bad? I'm assuming it means he was very diligent?

[RyRywifey]

He had nerve damage from boxing though. So his Parkinson's was a little different. He was at a disadvantage from the nerve damage. My great grandma had Parkinson's and died at 92 in 1991 from dementia, not from the Parkinson's. So I believe the nerve damage is what really bought him down

[Beckey]

I understand he worked hard at it, but by then his head had taken so much pounding I doubt the damage could be undone.

[49949]

We must take cognition that Parkinson's effects everyone different with different outcomes.

Some patients also suffer other co morbidities that can effect their overall health or ability to exercise-but if he (Mohammad Ali) could still diligently exercise up until his last years, then I believe he did quite well.

[grower]

even if it didn't help with PD symptoms I always feel good after I've done some sort of exercise that pushes me.

[jeeves19]

I suspect that the benefits of quick, aerobic exercise in relation to PD weren't so encouraged or advised when ALi was diagnosed. It seems to me that we're lucky today to be living at a time when a) we have the web and b) are communicating so effectively and learning from trailblazers like John Pepper, Nan Little, John Ball and Chris Lacey. All great examples to me of what vigorous exercise can achieve (with the exception of Chris whose achievement is primarily due to focusing on a new endeavour for extended periods of time)