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A word from Natalie Hodge

The benefits of exercise as part of a healthy life-style are well known. For many, knowing what form of exercise and where to start can be quite intimidating. For those with Parkinson's disease the idea of incorporating new, unfamiliar, and often intimidating movements can create a barrier that may seem insurmountable. Where do you start, when starting in itself feels impossible? In this post, we will discuss the benefits of building strength for those with Parkinson's disease and considerations to take when starting a new exercise program.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by four cardinal symptoms: tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. Strength training is a form of exercise that performs movements against a form of resistance (bodyweight, free weights, machine resistance, band resistance, etc.). Strength training offers a variety a benefits to the individual with Parkinson's disease. As with the general population, strength training improves strength and endurance. It reduces the risk for other chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. Strength training also affects the brain by making dopamine more efficiently available, increasing the number of D2 (dopamine) receptors, and protecting dopamine neurons from damage.

For the individual with Parkinson's disease strength training offers a number of benefits:

• Tremors: Studies have shown that strength training just twice per week, for a 6 month period, provided improvements in motor symptoms including tremors. These benefits have shown to last up 2 years.
• Bradykinesia: Another study showed participants in a progressive strength training program saw a reduction in bradykinesia symptoms after 9 weeks.
• Rigidity: Strength training may also improve functional performance and muscle power, according to a study in Spain, showing significant improvement in fast rhythm walking in clients with akinesia and rigidity.
• Postural Instability: Modifications to strength training programs can be made to accommodate for unilateral (one-sided) training for the client who presents with unilateral symptoms. This allows for compensatory exercises that may lead to long term improvements in unilateral symptoms, improving balance, and reducing risk for falls.
• Progressive strength training programs have also demonstrated changes similar to those of dopaminergic medications. This effect may allow for modified or reduced medications in consultation with a physician. This has been seen to be most effective when strength training is implemented early on in the diagnostic stage.