Physical Therapist Helps Parkinson's Patients Move It!
Move It! An Exercise and Movement Guide for Parkinson's Disease
Book and DVD by Kevin Lockette, PT
As a physical therapist, Kevin Lockette has worked with people with Parkinson’s Disease for the past 20 years. His goal is to keep those with Parkinson’s moving. His unconventional techniques and exercises are illustrated in his new book and demonstrated in his companion DVD called Move It!
Move It! is a complete movement, exercise and resource guide for people with Parkinson's Disease. The book and DVD illustrate techniques and demonstrate exercises with people who suffer from Parkinson’s, and includes:
· An overview of physical symptoms
· Medication review in easily understandable terms
· Techniques and tricks for improved mobility including bed mobility, transfers, and walking
· Anti-freezing techniques that really work
· Adaptive devices for easier everyday living
· Complete exercise programs specific for Parkinson's Disease for all physical levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced)
· Complete guide and exercise program for flexibility
I like that Move It! is an exercise program that addresses the specific needs of Parkinson’s patients at various physical levels. Kevin has developed clever techniques to remedy common problems of those with Parkinson’s. For example, his tip for dealing with a freezing episode is the Poor Man’s Hula.
It is very important for me to keep moving with Parkinson’s, and following the Move It! program may allow me to do so for as long as possible. I highly recommend it.
Further information on Move It! is available at: http://www.parkinsonsmoveit.com/home
About the Author:
Kevin Lockette has been practicing as a physical therapist in the rehabilitation field since 1989. He was a past president of HAPTA (Hawaii Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association) and the primary author of a medical text on rehabilitation, Conditioning with Physical Disabilities, Human Kinetic Publishers 1994.
Kevin has extensive experience in acute rehabilitation and is the founder of what is now the nation's largest wellness program for individuals with physical disabilities at the renown Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Kevin is a past head coach for the United States Disable Sports Team (A member of the U.S. Olympic Committee) and coached in International games including the World Championships and the Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain in 1992. Kevin is presently on the Clinical Advisory Council for the Multiple Sclerosis Society-Hawaii.
Kevin enjoys canoe paddling. He is also an avid basketball fan and attends UH sports whenever he can. Kevin is not only a physical therapist, but also father of two, an athlete, and non-fiction history buff. He is musically inclined in the harmonica and ukulele with a love for the blues.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Virtual Reality Eases Walking for Parkinson's Patients
April 15, 2009
Virtual Reality Eases Walking for Parkinson's Patients
A newly released virtual reality gait training device has been shown to improve walking and quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
Parkinson's disease patients are discovering first-hand that daily exercise with the GaitAid has a positive effect on their walking ability, minimizing freezing and balance problems. The GaitAid offers a drug free, non-RX alternative with no side effects.
The easy-to-use device includes special glasses and earphones which provide sensory feedback in response to the patient's movements. A practice session involves walking with the device for up to twenty minutes with no special training needed. These practice sessions soon start to create a lasting improvement for most Parkinson's disease patients. The degree of improvement varies: some patients use the GaitAid only occasionally after a few months while others make a short session a part of their daily routine to consolidate their gains.
Daniel Neal, a Parkinson's disease patient from Palm Springs, CA., commented after receiving his GaitAid, "As soon as I tried it my mobility improved tremendously! For the first time in over a year I am already walking without a cane. I am so impressed and so grateful. I cannot wait to share the miracle with my friends who suffer from PD. Thank you!"
GaitAid is available for a no-risk trial period of 60 days.
online www.medigait.com
email: support (at) medigait (dot) com
or by phone 888-777-9906
Virtual Reality Eases Walking for Parkinson's Patients
A newly released virtual reality gait training device has been shown to improve walking and quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders.
Parkinson's disease patients are discovering first-hand that daily exercise with the GaitAid has a positive effect on their walking ability, minimizing freezing and balance problems. The GaitAid offers a drug free, non-RX alternative with no side effects.
The easy-to-use device includes special glasses and earphones which provide sensory feedback in response to the patient's movements. A practice session involves walking with the device for up to twenty minutes with no special training needed. These practice sessions soon start to create a lasting improvement for most Parkinson's disease patients. The degree of improvement varies: some patients use the GaitAid only occasionally after a few months while others make a short session a part of their daily routine to consolidate their gains.
Daniel Neal, a Parkinson's disease patient from Palm Springs, CA., commented after receiving his GaitAid, "As soon as I tried it my mobility improved tremendously! For the first time in over a year I am already walking without a cane. I am so impressed and so grateful. I cannot wait to share the miracle with my friends who suffer from PD. Thank you!"
GaitAid is available for a no-risk trial period of 60 days.
online www.medigait.com
email: support (at) medigait (dot) com
or by phone 888-777-9906
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Parkinson's Disease: Exercise and Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's Disease: Exercise and Parkinson's Disease
Because Parkinson's disease affects your ability to move, exercise helps to keep muscles strong and improve flexibility and mobility. Exercise will not stop Parkinson’s disease from progressing; but, it will improve your balance and it can prevent joint stiffening.
You should check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Your doctor may make recommendations about:
The types of exercise best suited to you and those which you should avoid
The intensity of the workout (how hard you should be working)
The duration of your workout and any physical limitations
Referrals to other professionals, such as a physical therapist who can help you create your own personal exercise program
The type of exercise that works best for you depends on your symptoms, fitness level, and overall health. Generally, exercises that stretch the limbs through the full range of motion are encouraged.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when exercising.
Always warm-up before beginning your exercise routine and cool down at the end.
If you plan to workout for 30 minutes, start with 10-minute sessions and work your way up.
Exercise your facial muscles, jaw, and voice when possible: Sing or read aloud, exaggerating your lip movements. Make faces in the mirror. Chew food vigorously.
Try water exercise, such as aquarobics. These are often easier on the joints and require less balance.
Work out in a safe environment; avoid slippery floors, poor lighting, throw rugs, and other potential dangers.
If you have difficulty balancing, exercise within reach of a grab bar or rail. If you have trouble standing or getting up, try exercising in bed rather than on the floor or an exercise mat.
If at any time you feel sick or you begin to hurt, stop.
Select a hobby or activity you enjoy and stick with it. Some suggestions include: Gardening; Walking; Swimming; Water aerobics; Yoga; Tai chi.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience
Because Parkinson's disease affects your ability to move, exercise helps to keep muscles strong and improve flexibility and mobility. Exercise will not stop Parkinson’s disease from progressing; but, it will improve your balance and it can prevent joint stiffening.
You should check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program. Your doctor may make recommendations about:
The types of exercise best suited to you and those which you should avoid
The intensity of the workout (how hard you should be working)
The duration of your workout and any physical limitations
Referrals to other professionals, such as a physical therapist who can help you create your own personal exercise program
The type of exercise that works best for you depends on your symptoms, fitness level, and overall health. Generally, exercises that stretch the limbs through the full range of motion are encouraged.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when exercising.
Always warm-up before beginning your exercise routine and cool down at the end.
If you plan to workout for 30 minutes, start with 10-minute sessions and work your way up.
Exercise your facial muscles, jaw, and voice when possible: Sing or read aloud, exaggerating your lip movements. Make faces in the mirror. Chew food vigorously.
Try water exercise, such as aquarobics. These are often easier on the joints and require less balance.
Work out in a safe environment; avoid slippery floors, poor lighting, throw rugs, and other potential dangers.
If you have difficulty balancing, exercise within reach of a grab bar or rail. If you have trouble standing or getting up, try exercising in bed rather than on the floor or an exercise mat.
If at any time you feel sick or you begin to hurt, stop.
Select a hobby or activity you enjoy and stick with it. Some suggestions include: Gardening; Walking; Swimming; Water aerobics; Yoga; Tai chi.
Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Stay Active Helps Man with Parkinson's Disease
SAINT JOHN - Merv Cormier knows first-hand the feelings of fear, depression and "why me?" that those first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease experience.
Enlarge Photo
Click to Enlarge
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Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal
Retired phys ed teacher Merv Cormier, with his trusty camera, says a positive attitude makes it easier to fight Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2004.
"Like everybody else, I was kind of down in the dumps," he said, recalling his own 2004 diagnosis with the degenerative disease of the central nervous system that often impairs motor skills, speech and other functions.
"For two years, I didn't dare to do too much," recalled Cormier, who lives in Champlain Heights with his wife Dorie. "There's still so many things not known about Parkinson's and the symptoms seem to vary from person to person."
Now on three medications and coping fairly well with the disease, the 63-year-old former physical education teacher has some advice to offer newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients as he and the other members of the Saint John chapter of the Parkinson Society, Maritime Region, prepare to mark April as Parkinson Awareness Month.
"The thing to do, I believe, is to stay active and not get negative thoughts running through your head," said Cormier, an avid bird watcher, photographer and gardener. "A person who is positive, it is easier for him to fight Parkinson's because, if you get down in the dumps with it, you're going to get depressed."
No matter what stage of the disease you're at, a positive attitude will help you cope.
"I didn't have much energy at first, much less than I have now and much less than when I was normal," said Cormier who, as a dedicated birder, often rises at 5:30 or 6 a.m. to seek out and photograph his feathered friends.
Apart from continued pain in his right leg, which led to his original diagnosis, his symptoms are usually mild compared to some. But when he does get overly exhausted, he can get the shakes.
"I was breaking the ice in the driveway one day this past winter and when I got thirsty, I got a glass of milk," he said. "I could barely hold it. I had to put it down right quick because I was shaking so much I couldn't squeeze my hand on the glass."
And on a recent trip to seek out the only known nesting spot of a pair of red-shouldered hawks in New Brunswick in the Gagetown area, carrying his trusty Canon 40D camera, with a 100-400 mm lens, he found he was totally worn down by the time they heard the hawk's sound near the end of a five-kilometre trek.
Cormier, who is now on a disability pension, takes his own advice by staying busy these days.
The Cap-Pelé native now has a life list of 350 species of New Brunswick birds he has seen and catalogued. And, combining his passion as a birder with his passion as a photographer, he's photographed more than 330 of those species.
Enlarge Photo
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal
Retired phys ed teacher Merv Cormier, with his trusty camera, says a positive attitude makes it easier to fight Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed with the disease in 2004.
"Like everybody else, I was kind of down in the dumps," he said, recalling his own 2004 diagnosis with the degenerative disease of the central nervous system that often impairs motor skills, speech and other functions.
"For two years, I didn't dare to do too much," recalled Cormier, who lives in Champlain Heights with his wife Dorie. "There's still so many things not known about Parkinson's and the symptoms seem to vary from person to person."
Now on three medications and coping fairly well with the disease, the 63-year-old former physical education teacher has some advice to offer newly diagnosed Parkinson's patients as he and the other members of the Saint John chapter of the Parkinson Society, Maritime Region, prepare to mark April as Parkinson Awareness Month.
"The thing to do, I believe, is to stay active and not get negative thoughts running through your head," said Cormier, an avid bird watcher, photographer and gardener. "A person who is positive, it is easier for him to fight Parkinson's because, if you get down in the dumps with it, you're going to get depressed."
No matter what stage of the disease you're at, a positive attitude will help you cope.
"I didn't have much energy at first, much less than I have now and much less than when I was normal," said Cormier who, as a dedicated birder, often rises at 5:30 or 6 a.m. to seek out and photograph his feathered friends.
Apart from continued pain in his right leg, which led to his original diagnosis, his symptoms are usually mild compared to some. But when he does get overly exhausted, he can get the shakes.
"I was breaking the ice in the driveway one day this past winter and when I got thirsty, I got a glass of milk," he said. "I could barely hold it. I had to put it down right quick because I was shaking so much I couldn't squeeze my hand on the glass."
And on a recent trip to seek out the only known nesting spot of a pair of red-shouldered hawks in New Brunswick in the Gagetown area, carrying his trusty Canon 40D camera, with a 100-400 mm lens, he found he was totally worn down by the time they heard the hawk's sound near the end of a five-kilometre trek.
Cormier, who is now on a disability pension, takes his own advice by staying busy these days.
The Cap-Pelé native now has a life list of 350 species of New Brunswick birds he has seen and catalogued. And, combining his passion as a birder with his passion as a photographer, he's photographed more than 330 of those species.
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