Aging Well: Exercise improves Parkinson’s symptoms
Published: 2010-07-18 17:20:48By: Tamera Manzanares | Steamboat Today | April 12, 2010
There are many unanswered questions about Parkinson’s disease.
Some, such as what causes the condition in the first place, are troubling. Others, such as why exercise improves lives of people coping with the disease, are more optimistic.
Take, for instance, the European man with severe Parkinson’s disease who cannot walk more than a few steps but regularly rides his bike for miles and miles. His doctor, whose observations are described in the April 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found that other patients in later stages of Parkinson’s disease also were able to ride bicycles.
More research is needed to understand why cycling may be possible for individuals with Parkinson’s disease when other activities are not and whether this might be true for other types of exercise.
The case does, however, add more hope to a string of studies suggesting consistent exercise loosens Parkinson’s grip, helping ease, and possibly even delay symptoms, and extend a person’s independence.
Parkinson’s and exercise
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder characterized by tremors in hands, arms, legs or jaw; rigid or stiff limbs and trunk; slow movement; and impaired balance and coordination.
These symptoms, which grow worse throughout time, happen when cells producing dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in movement control and coordination, die.
Although Parkinson’s is not considered terminal, an individual’s quality of life can decrease significantly as they have more difficulty walking and performing daily tasks such as driving, working, bathing and getting out of bed.
Balance and walking problems make people with Parkinson’s disease susceptible to falls and fractures, while loss of independence can cause depression.
Medications widely are used to help patients manage symptoms. As with many chronic conditions, a healthy lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, physical activity and social interaction seems to further help individuals with Parkinson’s maintain their quality of life.Full story