Exercise is an important aspect of life for everyone that aims to stay on top of both their physical and mental health.
Regular exercise helps to improve muscle strength, boosts fitness, increases endurance, delivers oxygen around your body and helps your cardiovascular system work more effectively.
Exercising also helps boost your body’s endorphins (the natural feel-good factor within your brain), helping raise your mood so you can feel better about yourself. The list of benefits from exercise continues: such as better sleeping patterns, fighting anxiety & depression and relieving your stress levels.
Exercise and Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s Disease is a condition that affects the brain, causing problems like shaking and stiffness that can affect overall mobility. For those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, exercise is a great way of combating the symptoms you face.
Performing daily exercises helps to improve all of the benefits listed above, elevating your physical health, mental health and sleeping patterns. Our latest blog post explains exactly how those with the condition can benefit from exercise, alongside the best exercises for those living with Parkinson’s disease.
Why is exercise important for those with Parkinson’s Disease?
Exercise is important for those who are living with Parkinson’s Disease as it can help preserve mobility, balance, and the overall capability to perform daily tasks.
There are a range of different exercises you can perform to help you maintain your quality of life, and each style of exercise promotes different benefits. Don’t worry, we will cover specific exercises in further detail later in this article.
For example, you can improve your mobility and flexibility by performing strength-building exercises that keep your muscles strong.
On the other hand, to improve balance, you should consider exercises such as Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi or other posture focused exercises.
Those with Parkinson’s can also improve coordination and agility by taking part in exercise classes that include fun activities such as boxing and dancing.
Exercise classes are catered for all abilities, and you can even find classes that are designed specifically for the elderly and those with conditions such as Parkinson’s.
Parkinson’s exercises at home
Performing Parkinson’s exercises at home helps you stick to your exercise routine – without the difficulty of having to exert yourself leaving the house.
- Stretching
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Boxercise
- Follow along workout videos
- Dance-along’s
- Light weightlifting
- Balance exercises
- Posture exercises
- Strength exercises
Does exercise slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease?
Studies clearly show that people with Parkinson’s who exercise regularly fare better in the long run than those with the condition who remain inactive.
Firstly, there is proof that exercise can stop the accumulation of harmful protein within the brain, slowing down the progression of the disease. Considering Parkinson’s is a disease that attacks the brain and nervous system, this is a substantial finding.
Additionally, ‘vigorous’ exercise can help to slow the progression of the disease. This surrounds activities such as walking, running and various other exercises that can raise the heart rate.
What are the best exercises for Parkinson’s Disease?
Here you can find all the best exercises for Parkinson’s. The Parkinson’s Disease Clinic and Research Center suggest exercise should be varied, incorporating changing directions through unplanned movements, cardiovascular exercise, balance and strength training.
Walking, Hiking or Jogging
Walking, hiking and jogging helps get your body moving, and don’t worry… you can perform at your exact desired pace. Raising the heart rate through cardiovascular exercise holds many benefits, and this is one of the best ways to do so.
Aerobic exercise is one of the best forms of exercise for those with Parkinson’s, and it can be achieved in the great outdoors or on a treadmill. The choice is yours.
Yoga
Yoga is arguably one of the key balance exercises for Parkinson’s Disease. Yoga helps increase flexibility, improve posture, ease stiffness and much more – making it easier for those living with Parkinson’s to improve their mobility to help live life how they want to. Posture based exercises also help build the strength within your muscles.
Pilates
Pilates is one of many Parkinson’s balance exercises and allows those with the condition to be in tune with the movement of their body through correct breathing, posture alignment, and focus on smooth flowing movements. This helps you better control your balance and can improve your overall posture and flexibility. Again, Pilates is a key balance exercise for those with Parkinson’s Disease.
Dancing
Nothing helps your overall coordination like a good old dance! Rolling back the years and participating in dance can help raise the heart rate, stretch and strengthen the muscles, improve your balance and level of flexibility throughout the body.
Boxing
You can increase your strength, hand-eye coordination and improve your posture through light boxing exercise. Even if it’s just raising your arms in a punch like fashion in your home. There are a variety of classes you can attend that are perfect for all abilities, so get those arms moving and see the benefits.
Aqua-aerobics and swimming
Heading down to the local pool and participating in aquacise can help those Parkinson’s Disease improve fitness and coordination, helping you complete everyday tasks to a better standard. There is very little risk of injury when exercising in water with low impact exercise, offering a complete workout that focuses on all areas of your body.
Light weightlifting
Improving strength should be a key focus for those with Parkinson’s. This is because when postural muscles become weaker, it can be more difficult to balance and recover from perturbations.
Light weights are easily attainable from a number of different online and high street stores. Performing the most basic of movements can help you improve your overall strength. Training strength exercises for those living with Parkinson’s can unlock a number of benefits surrounding muscle strength, flexibility, posture and more.
Stretching
Stretching helps to maintain a good range of movement in your joints and muscles, as gradually, muscles and joints can often tighten. Particularly for those living with Parkinson’s Disease.
There are a number of stretches that you can perform that will aid in your movement and flexibility. They can be found here, alongside various posture and exercise demonstrations that are perfect for those with Parkinson’s who wish to remain active.
Outstanding Rated Parkinson’s Care
If you are living with Parkinson’s Disease and require assistance, Trinity Homecare are the perfect companion for you.
No matter the level of help you require, our team can be there to provide a heartfelt helping hand. We offer companionship services to keep you doing the things you love, care visits that are dictated by your need of assistance, and full-time live-in care to provide for you around the clock.
We can help you with all forms of Parkinson’s Care, contact a friendly member of our team today to see how we can help enrich your lifestyle.
