Parkinson's disease exercise

The Benefits of Exercise for People Who Suffer From Parkinson’s Disease

2010-09-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

Many sufferers of Parkinson’s disease quickly find that various aspects of their life are no longer controllable in the way that they used to be however by exercising regularly Parkinson sufferers can continue to control their gross movements i.e. walking, holding objects etc. for longer which adds a mental and emotional boost to their wellbeing. Research has shown that exercise may also improve the synthesis of dopamine in the brain and increase the levels of neurotrophic factors which are beneficial compounds.

Exercise for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease incorporates muscle strengthening, flexibility and toning activities so that muscles and joints stay flexible and strong. It is normal for a physiotherapist to implement an exercise schedule for the patient that includes a range of activities to work all muscles of the body over a two or three day period. So for example, day one of the cycle may include walking and strengthening exercises for the arms and hands whereas day two might be a yoga class where flexibility of the joints is the main focus.

It is essential to monitor the patient’s progress, not only so that any improvements and decreases in function are recorded but also as a stimulus for the patient; when people see improvement and can visualise the effort that they put in they are much more positive about continuing the regime.

In general exercise should test the entire body and not just the limbs so that posture and movement is maintained for as long as possible. Good posture is essential in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease because stooping can hamper breathing and swallowing. Exercises for posture include callisthenics, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and swimming however not every sufferer will enjoy these types of activities. Simply sitting upright while reading a book or watching TV and walking with a straight back will also help though, thus walking the dog or playing with the children or grandchildren are great ways to work the body muscles and to enjoy daily exercising.

Regular exercise for the Parkinson’s sufferer will reduce the incidence of muscle cramps, rigidity of the joints and the aches and pains associated with staying still for long periods of time. Also, because exercise helps the sufferer to maintain control over many of their gross movements (although maybe not the tremors) it gives them a heightened sense of achievement and so stress and anxiety levels remain low. Keeping a positive mental attitude is incredibly important in conditions like Parkinson’s disease where sufferer can very easily become frustrated and discouraged with their predicament.

As with all exercise routines, the patient should start with a good warm up followed by the exercise activity of their choice or which has been scheduled for that day, and then they should finish with a positive cool down so that the chances of developing muscle cramps and injuries are greatly reduced. An exercise session should ideally last around 15-20 minutes and should not by any means exhaust the patient. Overexertion can be equally as damaging to a Parkinson’s sufferer as no exercise at all.

In order to make daily exercise more appealing and less of a chore it may be worth trying to find a friend or relative that is willing to exercise with the patient. Also, a bit of variety in the type of exercise will not only mean that the exercise stays interesting but it will also ensure that all muscles and joints of the body are used to a satisfactory level.

Parkinson's disease patients find benefits in martial arts exercise

2010-09-05T15:26:00.000-07:00

Many people have seen martial arts performed in movies and on television, most likely as a means of defense against opposing forces in battle scenes. However, in Winter Haven, a form of martial arts - tai chi - is being used as a means of defense against an internal opponent - Parkinson's disease.

Parkinsons patients Bob Harmon, left, and Laura Williams perform Tai Chi with instructor Michael Carey and assistant Kate Gilbert at the Main Street Dojo's, Inc. on Central Avenue in Winter Haven.

Bob Harmon, left, follows the precise movements of instructor Michael Carey during Tai Chi.

Funded as part of a grant by the University of South Florida neurology department, Dr. Michael Carey has been offering free tai chi classes in Lakeland to Parkinson's disease patients for two years. This summer, he started offering the classes in Winter Haven.

Parkinson's disease patient Laura Williams began taking the classes in Lakeland and switched to the Winter Haven classes when they became available.

"I knew what tai chi was, but I didn't know how it could help people with Parkinson's disease," said Williams of her decision to start the class two years ago. "I heard about the class through my doctor, and I decided to go. It has helped so much with my balance, because my balance wasn't that good because of Parkinson's. The class has been good for that."

Williams said that because of tai chi's slow, deliberate movements, the exercise is one she can practice at home to supplement the once-a-week class.

By MEREDITH JEAN MORTON

Comparing exercise in Parkinson’s disease-The Berlin BIG Study.

2010-08-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Ebersbach G, Ebersbach A, Edler D, Kaufhold O, Kusch M, Kupsch A, Wissel J

Physiotherapy widely used Parkinson’s disease (PD), bυt tr r few controlled studies comparing active interventions. Recently, a technique named “Training BIG” b introduced. Training BIG derived frοm t Lee Silverman Voice Treatment focuses ο intensive exercising οf high-amplitude movements. I t present comparative study, 60 patients wt mild tο moderate PD wr randomly assigned tο receive tr one-tο-one training οf BIG, group training οf Nordic Walking (WALK), οr domestic nonsupervised exercises (HOME). Patients BIG WALK received 16 hours οf supervised training within 4 (BIG) οr 8 (WALK) weeks. T primary efficacy measure w ffr change Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score frοm baseline tο follow-up t 16 weeks between groups. UPDRS scores wr obtained b blinded video rating. ANCOVA οw significant group differences fοr UPDRS-motor score t final assessment (P < 0.001). Mean improvement οf UPDRS BIG w -5.05 (SD 3.91) whereas tr w a mild deterioration οf 0.58 (SD 3.17) WALK οf 1.68 (SD 5.95) HOME. BIG w ο superior tο WALK HOME timed-up--ο timed 10 m walking. Tr wr ο significant group differences fοr quality οf life (PDQ39). T results provide evidence tt BIG effective technique tο improve motor performance patients wt PD. (c) 2010 Movement Disorder Society.

Exercise and Parkinson's Disease

2010-07-24T15:26:00.001-07:00

Reviewed by Jon Glass, MD

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 thefull 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 water aerobics or swimming laps. 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.

Why Exercise is So Important

2010-07-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

Daily exercise therapy is one of the best things that you can do for yourself to counteract the negative effects of PD & other neurological & muscular disorders. A lack of physical activity reduces the amount of oxygen to the brain, contributes to further cell damage, loss of cognitive skills and muscle control.

Exercise brings additional oxygen & glucose to the brain, both of which are crucial to brain function. The body responds by forming new capillaries to bring the additional blood to nerve cells and by boosting brain chemicals that protect neurons and strengthen new neuronal connections. We have learned from stroke victims that the human brain has the ability to create new connections and bypass damaged areas to regain lost motor skills & muscle control. Remarkable results have been achieved, over time, with daily mental & physical exercise therapy. Mental concentration on repetitive physical movements can provide benefits to our muscles as well as our mental ability to control them.

When nerve cells are deprived of stimuli they atrophy, suggesting that stimulation of the central nervous system by physical activity may retard the loss of nerve cells in the brain and elsewhere. Exercise has been shown to enhance blood flow to various parts of the brain as well as to increase the speed with which nerve messages travel through the brain.

In addition to the effects of Parkinsons, most people diagnosed with this disease are over the age of 50 and therefore are also experiencing the normal effects of aging.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

* As muscles age, they begin to shrink and take longer to respond
* Tendons become stiffer & less able to tolerate stress
* Handgrip strength decreases, making routine tasks more difficult
* The heart muscle becomes less capable, making us tire more quickly
* Joint motion becomes more restricted & flexibility decreases
* Joints become inflamed and arthritic as the cushioning cartilage begins to breakdown

However the good news is, that we now know that most of the changes in our musculoskeletal system that were attributed to normal aging are in fact the result of inactivity and or insufficient physical exercise. The less physical activity and exercise we do the less capable we become.
According to the Mayo Clinic, "Exercise has important benefits for everyone regardless of age or physical condition... When your condition threatens to immobilize you, Exercise keeps you moving... to retain your mobility & function, use it or lose it".

Gameworld: Motion games broaden uses beyond exercise

2010-07-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

By John Gaudiosi
RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters Life!) – Ever since Nintendo launched the Wii, gamers have been interacting with characters and working out with virtual trainers in titles like Electronic Arts’ “EA Sports Active” or Ubisoft’s “Your Shape.”
Nintendo is even encouraging families to exercise together with “Wii Games: Summer 2010,” a national tour that kicks off in Jersey City, New Jersey on July 16 with Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson serving as an ambassador for the competition.

Now researchers, scientists and game developers are using Nintendo’s console for many other health-oriented applications, and in some cases are getting millions of dollars in grants to dream up new technologies.

A recent gathering of over 400 top minds at the sixth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston found innovative new ways that video games with motion-sensor controllers are being used to help doctors and patients.

Through a grant from the National Institute of Health, Red Hill Games and the School of Nursing at the University of California San Francisco are using Wii technology to create games that help people with Parkinson’s disease improve their balance. One called “Rail Runner” requires patients to stand up and sit down to operate an old-fashioned railroad hand cart.

“Most of these patients are in their 70s and 80s, and they really love these games,” said Bob Hone, creative director at Red Hill Studios. “They really want something that’s going to address their disease, and what’s different is these games are designed specifically for them.”

Red Hill is incorporating similar Wii technology into games to help improve gait and balance in kids with Cerebral Palsy.

“These kids sometimes have physical challenges, so we’ve taken that into account to make games where they feel like they’re walking and they get to the finish line successfully,” said Hone.

GROWING BUSINESS
This fall, Sony Computer Entertainment America will launch PlayStation Move for PlayStation 3 and Microsoft will introduce Kinect for Xbox 360. These new devices are expected to not only open up gaming to a new mainstream audience, but also offer pioneers in the burgeoning Games for Health arena the ability to dream up new technology.

“The impact of these new technologies is going to be as seismic as Nintendo was when it originally came out with the Wii and the Wii balance board, because it’s going to extend across more platforms,” said Stephen Yang, a researcher and assistant professor at New York’s College of Courtland.

“There are a lot of great game designers out there who will be able to tap into these new physical interactions with games and bring new experiences that will be both fun and beneficial for patients,” Yang said.

John Lumpkin, MD, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has seen first-hand the advances that motion-sensor controllers and physical games have had on both his patients and his own children.

“These games promote motion, which increases the heart rate and burns more calories,” said Lumpkin. “Even a game with the simplest motion like playing drums on ‘Rock Band’ can have a gamer burning twice as many calories per hour as he or she would just sitting around, while a more vigorous game like ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ can burn as many as six times the amount of calories,” said Lumpkin.
Lumpkin said what really excites him, and many in his field, is that fact that today researchers are using a Wii balance board game to help stroke victims regain their balance just as effectively as an $18,000 piece of equipment.

That’s one reason why the Games for Health sector has been growing exponentially over the past six years with no slowdown in sight.

“When you look at the economic activity associated with Health Care in the U.S. it’s approximately 16 percent of gross domestic product, even in countries that spend less on health care, it’s still double-digit GDPs,” said Ben Sawyer, co-founder, Games for Health.

“Small games for health developers are receiving grants in the tens of millions to the low hundreds of millions” of dollars, said Sawyer. “When you combine those numbers with game sales of titles like Konami’s ‘Dance Dance Revolution,’ Ubisoft’s ‘Your Shape,’ Nintendo’s ‘Wii Fit’ and Electronic Arts’ ‘EA Sports Active,’ the Games for Health sector is well over $1 billion annually.”

The Benefits of Exercise for People Who Suffer From Parkinson’s Disease

2010-06-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

by Jeremy Parker

Many sufferers of Parkinson’s disease quickly find that various aspects of their life are no longer controllable in the way that they used to be however by exercising regularly Parkinson sufferers can continue to control their gross movements i.e. walking, holding objects etc. for longer which adds a mental and emotional boost to their wellbeing. Research has shown that exercise may also improve the synthesis of dopamine in the brain and increase the levels of neurotrophic factors which are beneficial compounds.

Exercise for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease incorporates muscle strengthening, flexibility and toning activities so that muscles and joints stay flexible and strong. It is normal for a physiotherapist to implement an exercise schedule for the patient that includes a range of activities to work all muscles of the body over a two or three day period. So for example, day one of the cycle may include walking and strengthening exercises for the arms and hands whereas day two might be a yoga class where flexibility of the joints is the main focus.

It is essential to monitor the patient’s progress, not only so that any improvements and decreases in function are recorded but also as a stimulus for the patient; when people see improvement and can visualise the effort that they put in they are much more positive about continuing the regime.

In general exercise should test the entire body and not just the limbs so that posture and movement is maintained for as long as possible. Good posture is essential in the later stages of Parkinson’s disease because stooping can hamper breathing and swallowing. Exercises for posture include callisthenics, yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and swimming however not every sufferer will enjoy these types of activities. Simply sitting upright while reading a book or watching TV and walking with a straight back will also help though, thus walking the dog or playing with the children or grandchildren are great ways to work the body muscles and to enjoy daily exercising.

Regular exercise for the Parkinson’s sufferer will reduce the incidence of muscle cramps, rigidity of the joints and the aches and pains associated with staying still for long periods of time. Also, because exercise helps the sufferer to maintain control over many of their gross movements (although maybe not the tremors) it gives them a heightened sense of achievement and so stress and anxiety levels remain low. Keeping a positive mental attitude is incredibly important in conditions like Parkinson’s disease where sufferer can very easily become frustrated and discouraged with their predicament.

As with all exercise routines, the patient should start with a good warm up followed by the exercise activity of their choice or which has been scheduled for that day, and then they should finish with a positive cool down so that the chances of developing muscle cramps and injuries are greatly reduced. An exercise session should ideally last around 15-20 minutes and should not by any means exhaust the patient. Overexertion can be equally as damaging to a Parkinson’s sufferer as no exercise at all.

In order to make daily exercise more appealing and less of a chore it may be worth trying to find a friend or relative that is willing to exercise with the patient. Also, a bit of variety in the type of exercise will not only mean that the exercise stays interesting but it will also ensure that all muscles and joints of the body are used to a satisfactory level.

Effect of exercise on reactivity and motor behaviour in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

2010-06-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry.

Authors: MÃ¼ller T, Muhlack S

Background Following cued levodopa (LD) intake, endurance exercise showed a beneficial effect on scored motor performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in comparison with rest. This may result from an exercise induced increase in endogenous dopamine synthesis. As a result, beneficial effects on movement and reactivity may occur. Objectives To measure reactivity and motor performance in a repeated fashion with instrumental tasks after cued administration of soluble 200 mg of LD/50 mg of benserazide. Design PD patients consecutively performed paradigms, which assess reactivity and movement performance, after a standardised period of rest or of age-related, heart rate adapted endurance exercise on two consecutive days in a random order. Results Reactivity and execution of simple and complex motion series were significantly better following exercise than after rest. Discussion Endurance exercise has a beneficial effect on reactivity and movement behaviour in PD patients following cued application of LD probably due to an augmented synthesis and release of dopamine and other catecholamines and release in the prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens and the basal ganglia. Small changes in catecholamine modulation of prefrontal cortex cells can have profound effects on the ability of the prefrontal cortex to guide behaviour. Previous exercise may also improve pedunculopontine nucleus function, which is involved in motor-related attention processes.

Effect of exercise on reactivity and motor behaviour in patients with Parkinson’s disease.

2010-06-02T13:58:00.000-07:00

Authors: MÃ¼ller T, Muhlack S

Background Following cued levodopa (LD) intake, endurance exercise showed a beneficial effect on scored motor performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) in comparison with rest. This may result from an exercise induced increase in endogenous dopamine synthesis. As a result, beneficial effects on movement and reactivity may occur. Objectives To measure reactivity and motor performance in a repeated fashion with instrumental tasks after cued administration of soluble 200 mg of LD/50 mg of benserazide. Design PD patients consecutively performed paradigms, which assess reactivity and movement performance, after a standardised period of rest or of age-related, heart rate adapted endurance exercise on two consecutive days in a random order. Results Reactivity and execution of simple and complex motion series were significantly better following exercise than after rest. Discussion Endurance exercise has a beneficial effect on reactivity and movement behaviour in PD patients following cued application of LD probably due to an augmented synthesis and release of dopamine and other catecholamines and release in the prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens and the basal ganglia. Small changes in catecholamine modulation of prefrontal cortex cells can have profound effects on the ability of the prefrontal cortex to guide behaviour. Previous exercise may also improve pedunculopontine nucleus function, which is involved in motor-related attention processes.

PMID: 20478845 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Can Regular Yoga “Cure” Diseases?

2010-05-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

By Michael Hutch PhD

Various forms of yoga have been scientifically shown to handle and perhaps even “remedy” various persistent diseases. Listed below are various medical issues that have been proved scientifically to be improved by yoga.

Asthma: Yoga breathing exercises possibly could assist sufferers of mild asthma and may help decrease their use of low-dose drug inhalers in wheezing attacks. Researchers from the Respiratory Medicine Unit, City University, Nottingham, call for added studies of ways of improving breathing mastery which they say have been largely unheeded by Western medicine. while yoga practitioners have long believed in the benefits of pranayama breathing exercises for asthmatics, this has been difficult to examine formally. But, using a Pink City lung – a device that imposes slow breathing on the user and can mimic pranayama breathing exercises – it was possible to measure the effects of controlled breathing in a hospital test. Two simulated pranayama exercises were tested: slow deep breathing and breathing out for twice as long as breathing in. In asthma, the airways become restricted making breathing difficult. It is increasing in the UK, with more than three million children and adults affected, and are responsible for 2,000 deaths annually. The doctors used standard clinical tests to measure the volume of air patients were able to blow out in a second and to test the irritability of their airways. After yoga, their airways were two times less irritable.

Parkinson’s disease: Yoga has a key purpose in management of Parkinson’s as it has emerged as a helpful alternate therapy and an ideal mode of exercise for Parkinson’s patients because of its gradual movements. Following the steps mentioned below could successfully help individuals with Parkinson’s: 1. Concentrate on controlling your breath (Pranayama) as this brand of yoga helps in moments of panic – such as feet sticking to the flooring when walking. In this form of yoga, the mind is always watchful. 2. Few yoga exercises like back strengthening postures, lots of shoulder movements, breathing practices and some meditation positively helps. 3. One of the most useful forms of yoga used for Parkinson’s is Ashtanga Yoga. It works to strengthen the body and perform increases blood circulation. 4. day-to-day practice of yoga is all-important since Parkinson’s itself does not inevitably weaken the muscles. Weakening of muscles is ordinarily caused by lack of motion. Daily exercise should be encouraged, but not enough to generate tiredness. 5. Parkinson’s also result in the loss of motility of the facial muscles. Pranayama and supplementary yoga movements could aid in relaxing those muscles and bring a smile on the face of the patient.

Diabetes: Diabetes in a lot of forms affects up to 5percent of the world population with 12 million diabetics in Western Europe alone. Of the unique ways in which diabetes presents, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is probably the most usually encountered genetic condition. NIDDM or Type II diabetes is multifactorial, depending also on environmental factors including obesity, sedentary lifestyles and nutritional imbalances. One of the studies conducted to cure diabetes was the one set up by the Yoga Biomedical Trust, founded in 1982 by biochemist Dr Robin Monro, and an Indian yoga research foundation which discovered that practicing yoga for 30 minutes a day for one month helped reduce blood glucose levels in some diabetics.The yoga patients took part in one or two 90-minute sessions a week and were asked to practise at home. The classes included the particular yoga exercises of the spinal twist, the bow and abdominal breathing. At the conclusion of the 12 weeks blood sugar levels fell significantly in all patients in the group and were slightly raised in a control group which had not joined in the yoga sessions. Three yoga students managed to cutback their medication, including one man who had not altered his drug regimen for 20 years. It is not necessarily the exercise element of the yoga therapy package which is most significant, as there is not adequate physical exercise to account for the changes, but stress decrease has a lot to do with it. Stress hormones increase sugar levels in the blood. individuals also benefit from the stabilisation of their moods which yoga brings, an increased perception of well-being and a belief of being more in mastery, which may assist with their diet control and consequently their diabetes.

Computer use and physical exercise may reduce risk of memory loss

2010-05-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Crack open a book and hop on a stationary bike to ward off memory loss.

The combination of moderate physical exercise and computer use may help reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment later in life, Mayo Clinic researchers found.

Individually, the effects of moderate exercise and computer use prove to significantly reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment, according to the study.

But Yonas Geda, a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, said, “The combined effects are better than the arithmetic sum of the individual effects.”

Mild cognitive impairment is the intermediate stage between normal cognitive aging and dementia, he said. He gave the example of people losing their keys on occasion, which would be considered a normal occurrence. Forgetting about a flight or another important event, however, may be signs of mild cognitive impairment and early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, he said.

Normal cognitive aging involves the brain function to remain intact, while a decrease in processing speed in the brain occurs, said Dr. Diana Kerwin in the Division of Geriatrics at Northwestern University. In the absence of cognitive diseases, it is expected that people take longer to do their taxes or balance their checkbooks, she said.

People in the study who engaged in any amount of moderate exercise were 36 percent less likely to have mild cognitive impairment than people who did not exercise.

Those who participated in any amount of computer use were 44 percent less likely to have mild cognitive impairment than people who did not use the computer.

The joint effect of moderate exercise and computer use causes “synergistic interaction,” explains Geda, which is greater than if each exercise were performed independently.

“Exercise can help delay or prevent the onset of cognitive decline,” said Kerwin, who also is affiliated with the Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disorder Center in the Neurobehavioral Clinic at Northwestern University. Exercise can also maintain healthy blood vessels and glucose levels and lower blood pressure, she said.

The 926 participants, ages 70 to 90, were evaluated in a case-control study, which meant a cause-and-effect relationship could not be drawn from the data, Geda said.

Since there is not a cause-and-effect relationship, there is a possibility that people who engage in physical and mental exercise are less likely to show memory loss or that a person with memory loss is less likely to perform mental and physical activities.

“We know as far as successful aging, one of the best activities is to remain engaged,” Kerwin said, whether it be social, cognitive, physical exercise, or a combination.

Geda recommended craft activities, such as knitting and quilting, social activities and any other moderate physical exercise to reduce the risk of mild cognitive impairment.

Kerwin suggested that people participate in activities that are cognitively challenging, but also activities that they are interested in. “If people enjoy the activity, it increases the likelihood that they’ll do it,” she said.

Barbara Wijnicki, a 73-year-old Chicago resident, keeps active by taking yoga and dance classes, walking regularly and reading books.

“I always have a book to read and I think it may be helping me with my mental capactity,” she said. “I believe that just being active and being with other people is good for the brain and the mental part.”

Researchers Say Exercises Can Reduce Parkinson’s Effects

2010-03-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh and University of Southern California discovered that exercise can slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease (known as “PD”).

Sat Feb 06 2010] The studies suggest that regular physical activity can help to reduce damage to neurons in the brain that causes Parkinson’s disease.

“Parkinson’s disease is an illness that affects muscle movement,” says Kay Mixson Jenkins, author of the new children’s book Who Is Pee Dee? “Anything that can help to maintain normal muscle tone and flexibility is extremely important.”

Ms. Jenkins was diagnosed with PD when she was just thirty-four. She decided to write her book to help her children understand the disease. The story follows a young boy named Colt as he tries to deal with his mother’s chronic illness.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects nearly 1.5 million Americans; approximately 50,000 are diagnosed with the disease every year.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Exercise has important benefits for everyone regardless of age or physical condition... When your condition threatens to immobilize you, exercise keeps you moving... To retain your mobility and function, use it or lose it.”

Exercises cannot stop Parkinson’s disease progression, but based on the study, regular physical activity can help PD patients to:

• minimize further cell damage.
• decrease loss of cognitive skills.
• increase muscle control and build muscle strength.
• improve balance and coordination.
• reduce depression.

“Unfortunately, there is no cure yet for Parkinson’s disease,” says Ms. Jenkins. “I believe that exercise can help to delay the progression of Parkinson’s and improve emotional well-being, which is very important for PD patients.”

Kay Mixson Jenkins is the Georgia state co-coordinator for the Parkinson’s Action Network, leads the Effingham County Parkinson’s support group and was selected as a Parkinson’s patient advocate for UCB, Inc.

Exercise Effect on Parkinson’s Studied

2010-01-20T15:40:00.000-08:00

Researchers at the new Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix launched a study this month designed to determine the physical and neurological impact of simple exercise on Parkinson’s disease patients age 50 to 70.

During the 12-week trial, participants follow a structured exercise program called pole-striding (walking with ski-like poles) three days a week for 45 minutes.

They are monitored and coached by staff members from the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. They wear heart rate monitors and pedometers to measure the intensity of the training.

Participants’ brains are monitored to determine if increased physical activity helps protect the neurons in the brain from the disease.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Parkinsons Disease Advice On Mobility Products For Parkinsons Disease Patients.

2010-01-11T11:07:00.000-08:00

Parkinsons disease is a difficult and frustrating illness affecting one in 500 people in the UK. There are a wealth of services, advice and products on hand that can help with symptoms and side effects associated with Parkinsons disease, making life easier for both careers and patients.

Parkinsons disease or PD as it can often be called is a movement disorder that persists over a long period of time and progressively gets worse. This degenerative disorder attacks the central nervous system resulting in impaired motor skills that cause tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowing or loss of physical movement.

Exercise and mobility are the best things you can do/ or encourage to restore some independence against Parkinsons negative effects. Medical experts view exercise with the same level of importance as medication when it comes to the management of Parkinsons disease. Exercise helps by keeping muscles strong and improving flexibility and mobility, as well as recovering balance and preventing joint stiffening. For example investing in a Pedal Exerciser can help re-establish muscle strength in the lower body and is easy to use in the home.

Getting out and about is important, as it a great source of both physical and mental activity improving the quality of life for the Parkinsons patient. Mobility Aids such as walking sticks are designed to provide support for those who have difficulty keeping their balance. A Parkinson's patient tends to stoop forward and shuffle, so the Quad Cane would be a recommended strong support for the patient. However there is the Walking Stick Seat that as implied in its name, has a seat for when the user feels fatigued and can be easily folded for storage or travel.

Freezing, getting locked in one position is an immobilizing symptom of Parkinsons that prevents the patient from walking. The Parkinsons sufferer cannot seem to focus on taking another step however there is a mobility aid on the market that combats this problem. This mobility product is a laser that come attached to walking stick, beaming a line onto the ground encouraging the user to step over it. To purchase this specialist item, or to request further details please email mail@collinscare.co.uk, or call 01603 483883.

Hand tremors can be an embarrassing symptom of Parkinsons, but one that can often be compensated for by using mobility utensils. For example the Sure Grip Cup has deep groves to resist slippage and the Good Grips Weighted Cutlery has added weight to engage more muscle control. These products and many more allow the Parkinson's patient to remain more independent, which can help with the side effect of depression that can be related to this disease.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

TAI CHI AND PARKINSONS?

2010-01-04T09:09:00.000-08:00

Tai Chi movement’s gentle balance enhancing motions can obviously help the Parkinson’s patient by helping to reduce the gradual loss of balance that Parkinson’s sufferers often experience. However, there may be much more it offers. For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the human body in about 95% of the ways the body can move, when a long form is practiced. This is far beyond what other exercise offers, and in fact the closest would be several swimming strokes, which together would only rotate the body in about 65% of the ways it can move. For Parkinson’s sufferers, or anyone for that matter, this would indicate that by “using” 95% of the body’s possible motion several times a week, the possibility of “losing” the ability to do so diminishes accordingly. This isn’t rocket science, but simple common sense.

Yet, perhaps Parkinson’s patients have even more to gain from Tai Chi. A few years ago I taught several classes at local medical centers. I was continually frustrated because although I’d seen emerging reports that Tai Chi was beneficial to people with Parkinson’s Disease, or arthritis, or chronic hypertension, etc., even though the departments that specialized in those conditions were often just down the hall from my Tai Chi class . . . they might as well have been a million miles away. Because the physicians who ran those departments were either ignorant of or unwilling to refer their patients to the possibilities that Tai Chi offered their lives.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Wii-hab boosts Parkinson's treatments

2009-12-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

Nintendo has been sneaking exercise into their consoles for years. With the advent of the Wii and its games like Wii Sports and, of course, the Wii Fit, video games have slowly been growing into something much more active. Nintendo has even created a pedometer for a new version of Pokémon DS. However, scientists are taking the idea of active video games to a new level, using Wii Sports as a unique treatment for people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Much to this writer’s delight, the therapy is gaining notoriety under the name of Wii-hab.

Presented at the fifth annual Games for Health Conference, researchers from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) showed how just four weeks of play exacted marked improvements in patients suffering from Parkinson’s at varying degrees of severity. Using games that require finesse in bilateral movement, eye-hand coordination, and figure-ground relationship is an ideal way to help a person afflicted with a disease that impairs motor skills. Playing rounds of Wii tennis, bowling, and boxing three times a week for a month was all the longer it took to see changes.

Dr. Ben Hertz, a director of Occupational Therapy at MCG, explained that “participants showed significant improvements in rigidity, movement, fine motor skills and energy levels. Perhaps most impressively, most participants' depression levels decreased to zero.” [MCG] Depression is a major impact factor in Parkinson’s, with at least half of the patients reporting the mental illness.

No neurological studies have been done to solidify the reasons behind the improvement. However, Hertz believes that the combination of exercise and video games helps boost dopamine levels, a neurotransmitter that is severely deficient in Parkinson’s disease. That is the motivation behind using the Wii over another video game system; Wii requires whole-body movement instead of the simple isolated finger movements on a traditional controller.

Expect more results from the new Wii-hab movement. Hertz’s next plan is to investigate the effects of Wii Fit on Parkinson’s with the help of a $45,000 grant from the National Parkinson’s Foundation. "Game systems are the future of rehab," Dr. Herz said. "About 60 percent of the study participants decided to buy a Wii for themselves. That speaks volumes for how this made them feel."

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Video games may have potential health benefits

2009-12-13T13:56:00.000-08:00

A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiative is exploring how digital games can improve health for people of all ages.

Health Games Research, a national program supported by the foundation, awarded about $1.85 million in grants Nov. 5 to study games that engage players in physical activities or motivate them to make healthy lifestyle changes.

Among the grant recipients is the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Researchers there will test the effects of games on the brain activity and facial perception skills of 8- to 12-year-olds who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The games will challenge them to notice subtle differences in faces and expressions, a skill lacking in many children with autism.

Researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., will study three modes of exercise involving: "Winds of Orbis," a video game that uses upper- and lower-body movement to control characters; "Dance Dance Revolution," which involves dancing on a pad that detects a player's steps; and traditional school physical education activities.

Participants will be inner-city elementary school students randomly assigned to the activities. Researchers will measure the students' enjoyment level, attitudes toward physical activity, and amount of exercise and calories burned.

Meanwhile, Teachers College at Columbia University in New York will evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking reduction game application for mobile phones. A group at Long Island University's Brooklyn, N.Y., campus will assess the benefits of "Dance Dance Revolution" in helping Parkinson's disease patients reduce their risk of falling.

"We are seeing a lot of evidence that games are a great environment for learning and for behavior change," said Debra Lieberman, PhD, director of Health Games Research (www.healthgamesresearch.org).

Lieberman also is a communication researcher at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Institute for Social, Behavioral and Economic Research.

"If you can design a game well that aligns the health goals with the game goals, you can really get people motivated to learn about health and try out new skills," she said.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

The Benefits of Exercise for People Who Suffer From Parkinson’s Disease

2009-12-03T19:59:00.001-08:00

Slide Leg Raise

2009-11-23T20:58:00.000-08:00

Purpose: Helps strengthen muscles of the hips and thighs

1. Find a firm and steady table or chair that will not move. Hold onto the steady surface (such as a chair or table) firmly for balance, with your feet positioned shoulder-width apart.
2. Slowly lift your leg out to your side. Try moving it about 6-10 inches from where your leg is at rest. Try keeping your back and legs straight, and your toes facing forward.
3. Hold position for 1-2 seconds.
4. Slowly lower your leg. Pause for 5-10 seconds to rest.
5. Repeat movement with your other leg.
6. Alternate exercising your legs until you have done 10 repetitions with each leg.
7. After a short rest period, do another set of 10 repetitions of this exercise.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Theracycle the new exercise solution!

2009-11-12T09:18:00.000-08:00

At last, there is a home medical device that allows people who have Parkinson's disease to get more physical activity! If you no longer have the strength, coordination or stamina to get the meaningful physical activity you need, a Theracycle is the perfect medical device for you.

The Theracycle is a motor powered, computer monitored medical device designed to guide the user through a programmed workout. The unique motorized Theracycle delivers an efficient full range-of-motion workout that can help you:

■develop strength, mobility and flexibility
■increase energy, endurance and general well-being
■improve muscle tone and cardiovascular fitness
■provide safe in-home exercise and movement therapy

A testimonial from Dr. David Heydrick, a well known neurologist living with Parkinson's disease:
"I have a Theracycle at home and use it in the evenings. As a neurologist and person with Parkinson's, I am impressed with the passive and voluntary cycling and the empowerment the Theracycle offers in fighting back against the disease."

Theracycle users with Parkinson's disease find that they have:

Reduced rigidity and tremor

Reduced bradykinesia

Improved flexibility and balance

Improved bladder and bowel function

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Parkinson’s patients test gum to help swallowing

2009-11-04T21:15:00.000-08:00

Researchers in southwestern Ontario are trying to determine if chewing gum will ease swallowing problems among people with Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's is a degenerative nerve disease that affects more than 100,000 Canadians, and can cause swallowing difficulty as the disease progresses, according to the Parkinson Society Canada.
That's because Parkinson's symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and slow movements can affect the mechanisms used in speaking and swallowing, said neurologist and researcher Dr. Mandar Jog of the London Health Sciences Centre.
Early research points to improved swallowing among Parkinson's patients who chew gum several hours a day. Chewing is a form of exercise for the mouth. The researchers think that having gum in the mouth and chewing it may help to train Parkinson's patients to also move their tongues while eating and swallowing.
"Gum acts like sensory cue to train the system," said Jog, who is also director of the Movement Disorders Centre. Other types of training have helped people with Parkinson's. For example, when lights are placed in front of patients, the visual cue seems to help them improve their gait, Jog said. Now the team is investigating how long the benefits of gum chewing last.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Exercise: Hip Extension

2009-10-27T22:36:00.001-07:00

Purpose: Helps strengthen lower-back muscles and buttocks

1. Find a firm and steady table or chair that will not move. Stand 12-18 inches from this table or chair, with your feet slightly apart.
2. Face the steady object, hold onto it. Then, bend forward at your hips at about a 45-degree angle and hold on to the table or chair for balance.
3. Slowly lift one of your legs straight backwards without bending your knee, pointing your toes, or bending your upper body forward.
4. Hold position for 1-2 seconds.
5. Slowly lower your leg. Pause for 5-10 seconds to rest.
6. Repeat movement with your other leg.
7. Alternate exercising your legs until you have done 10 repetitions with each leg.
8. After a short rest period, do another set of 10 repetitions of this exercise.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Exercise: Knee Extension

2009-10-19T20:51:00.000-07:00

Purpose: Helps strengthen thigh and shin muscles.
(Required item: A towel.)

1. Sit in a sturdy armless chair. The back of the chair should support you comfortably. Ensure that only your toes and the balls of your feet touch the ground. If required, put a rolled towel under your knees, to elevate your feet to the proper height. Next, place your hands on your thighs or on the sides of the chair.
2. Slowly extend one of your legs in front of you. Try to make this movement as straight as possible.
3. Next, flex your foot to point your toes towards your head.
4. Hold the position for 1-2 seconds.
5. Lower the leg back down to the floor. Pause for 5-10 seconds to rest.
6. Repeat movement with your other leg.
7. Alternate exercising your legs until you have done 10 repetitions with each leg.
8. After a short rest period, do another set of 10 repetitions of this exercise.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Exercise: Shoulder Flexion

2009-10-05T22:10:00.001-07:00

Purpose: Helps strengthen shoulder muscles. (Required item: A set of 1 lb. hand weights.)

1. Sit in a sturdy armless chair. The back of the chair should support you comfortably. 2. Keep your feet firmly on floor in line with your shoulders. 3. Hold a set of hand weights (a recommended starting weight is 1lb. for each weight) straight down at your sides, with your palms facing inward. 4. Now, slowly raise both arms in front of you (keep your hands straight and rotate them so your palms face upward) to shoulder height. 5. Hold position for 1-2 seconds. 6. Slowly lower your arms to your sides. Pause for 5-10 seconds to rest. 7. Then, repeat the exercise about 10 additional times. 8. After a short rest period, do another set of 10 repetitions of this exercise. For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Exercise: Arm Raise

2009-09-22T22:25:00.001-07:00

Purpose: Helps strengthen shoulder muscles.
(Required item: A set of 1 lb. hand weights.)

1. Sit in a sturdy armless chair. The back of the chair should support you comfortably.
2. Keep your feet flat on floor.
3. Hold a set of hand weights (a recommended starting weight is 1 lb. for each weight) straight down at your sides, with your palms facing inward.
4. Raise both arms at your side, to shoulder height.
5. Hold the position for 1-2 seconds.
6. Slowly lower your arms to your sides. Pause for 5-10 seconds to rest.
7. Then, repeat the exercise about 10 additional times.
8. After a short rest period, do another set of 10 repetitions of this exercise.

For more information go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Stretching Exercises for Parkinson's Disease

2009-09-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

By Sarena Ulibarri

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative muscle disorder that causes tremors, stiffness, trouble balancing and lack of mobility. The symptoms generally worsen over time, and there is no known cure. In addition to medication and close medical care, exercise is commonly recommended to improve functioning and quality of life in those with Parkinson's disease. Exercise classes that focus on stretching, such as yoga, tai chi and Pilates, may be especially beneficial.

Benefits
Few studies have tested long-term effectiveness of stretching exercises for Parkinson's disease, but according to a Cornell study, patients who took part in gentle yoga classes for Parkinson's disease reported an overall improvement in their sense of well-being, including decreased stiffness and tension, and increased mobility and energy. Stretching exercises can also help counteract the postural changes caused by Parkinson's disease, including rounding forward of the shoulders and spine. In addition to physical benefits, group exercise classes may provide emotional support that can help people cope with Parkinson's disease.

One cause of Parkinson's disease is an insufficient amount of dopamine in the brain; the cause of the decrease in dopamine is unknown and may be genetic. According to a 2002 study at the John F. Kennedy Institute, restorative or meditative yoga has been shown to increase dopamine levels, which may be one reason why Parkinson's disease patients report improvement after practicing yoga.
Types
If you have Parkinson's disease, take care when choosing an exercise program, and opt for a gentle and noncompetitive practice. Some hospitals or recovery centers have exercise classes for Parkinson's disease that focus specifically on stretching exercises as symptom management. Choose a yoga class for Parkinson's disease labeled as "gentle" or "restorative," and always talk to the instructor about your condition and particular concerns. Pilates is a system of exercise that focuses on small controlled movements and strengthening the core. Pilates classes for Parkinson's disease should be a gentler practice than those offered at many gyms and studios, but you can always ask the instructor for modifications. Tai chi and qigong classes also offer stretching exercises that are beneficial for those with Parkinson's disease.

Examples
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability recommends gentle stretching exercises for Parkinson's that focus on the arms, legs and neck, as well as gentle twists, forward bends and side bends. Neck exercises include head tilts, chin tucks and head turns that decrease stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Yoga poses such Bound Angle Pose (baddha konasana), Head to Knee Pose (janu sirsasana), Standing Side Bend (Chandrasana), Wind Relieving Pose (pavanamuktasana) and Half Lord of the Fishes (ardha matsyendrasana) are beneficial stretching exercises for Parkinson's disease.

For more informations go to www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Parkinson: Special Exercises To Improve Symptoms

2009-09-06T13:18:00.000-07:00

With the help of an exercise you can take action against your complaints. The training also contribute to physical therapy to counteract poor posture around the back and neck and strengthen the muscles. On Parkinson’s disease sufferers are suffering), inter alia, poverty of movement (akinesia), and muscle stiffness (rigidity. Consequently, their movements are disturbed and the movement will be charged uniformly.
According to the dPV go for lack of exercises in the course of the disease, lost a lot of normal movement patterns, which stunted the unused muscles. Several studies have already provided evidence that exercise training helps many Parkinson’s patients in everyday life. For example, strength training can promote the ability to climb stairs, while Special Mobilisationsübungen help to preserve the balance.

Targeted training contributes to the increase in mobility, and also improves blood flow in the brain. Through the practice of more complex movements can be nerve cells activate and deactivate a wide area. Thus the distribution of the neurotransmitter dopamine and serotonin, whose metabolism in the brain in Parkinson’s syndrome is impaired, increased. Moreover, complex motions by the formation of nerve cells are stimulated.

For more information go to: www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org

Simple steps to create your own exercise program and follow it.

2009-08-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

Exercise is good for most people, but not everyone. If you are living with Parkinson's disease, be sure to discuss any exercise program with your doctor before you begin. Again, work with your doctor to assess the right exercise program to fit your current Parkinson's disease symptoms and specific needs.

Exercise can be an important additional therapy in treating Parkinson's disease.

An exercise program should include aerobic, strengthening, and stretching activities.

Most patients can still exercise, regardless of their stage of Parkinson’s disease.

Now you know the good news. Exercise is not only healthy for most Parkinson's disease patients, it can also be beneficial in maintaining strength, aiding in relaxation, reducing stress, and helping you feel more in control of your health. Research has also shown that exercise can also have a beneficial effect on a patient's mood or well-being.

Here are some simple steps to create your own exercise program and follow it.
Write out your exercise goals and a schedule.
What fitness goals do you have in mind? Aerobic fitness? Increasing strength? Staying flexible? Agree with your doctor on your exercise goals. Next, write out the days and times of the week that you plan to exercise. Create “appointments” on your calendar, so you’ll stick to your program and follow your exercise plan. If necessary consider seated exercises.

Find a workout friend.
Consider finding a friend to work out with you. The extra company and conversation will make it easier to work out, since people tend to be less focused on the physical activity and more on the person they’re with.

Set a goal and reward yourself.
Practice setting exercise goals for yourself. When you achieve one of your goals, give yourself a reward: a movie night, a visit to your favorite bookstore, or some time at a café. This can help you stay motivated to continue your exercise program.

Listen to music.
Some people find listening to music a great way to stay with their exercise program. Try taking a CD player, radio, or MP3 player with you on your workouts. You may find that it gives you the extra burst of energy that you need to do your exercises.

Exercises For The Parkinson Patient

2009-07-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

Just as running water does not freeze, so moving muscles do not freeze.
Know the facts. The maintenance of normal muscle tone and function is an important aspect of the treatment of parkinsonism. In part, medication administered for your illness achieves this goal. However, to realize the full benefit of the medication daily exercise and activity are essential. This booklet outlines some of the exercises capable of maintaining muscle power and tone and preventing deformities of the limbs and spine. Their daily performance has proved most beneficial to patients with this illness.

TEN BASIC EXERCISES FOR THE PARKINSON PATIENT
1. Bring the toes up with every step you take. In Parkinson's disease, "you never make a move", without lifting the toes.

2. Spread the legs (10 inches) when walking or turning, to provide a wide base, a better stance, and to prevent falling. It may not look "beautiful," but neither does falling.

3. For greater safety in turning, use small steps, with feet widely separated. Never cross one leg over the other when turning. Practice walking a few yards and turn. Walk in the opposite direction and turn. Do so fifteen minutes a day.

4. Practice walking into tight corners of a room, to overcome fear of close places.

5. To insure good body balance, practice rapid excursions of the body. Backward, forward and to the right and left, five minutes, several times a day. Don't look for a wall when you think you are falling. It may not be there. Your body will always be there to protect you, if you will practice balance daily.

6. When the legs feel frozen or "glued" to the floor, a lift of the toes eliminates muscle spasm and the fear of falling. You are free to walk again.

7. Swing the arms freely when walking. It helps to take body weight off the legs, lessens fatigue, and loosens the arms and shoulders.

8. If getting out of a chair is difficult, rise with "lightning speed," to overcome the "pull of gravity." Sitting down should be done slow, with body bent sharply forward, until one touches the seat. Practice this at least a dozen times a day.

9. If the body lists to one side, carry a shopping bag loaded with books or other weights in the opposite hand to decrease the bend.

10. Any task that is difficult, such as buttoning a shirt. or getting out of bed, if practiced 20 times it day, becomes easier the 21st time.

FOR TIGHT MUSCLES AND POOR POSTURE
STANDING
1. Stand ln front of a wall, facing it about 8" away. Raise arms and reach as high as possible toward the top of the wall. Lean toward the wall and stretch.

2. With your back to the wall, alternate raising legs as high as possible by bending the knee as if marching in place.

3. Holding on to something secure, squat down as far as possible, bending knees; then come up.

SITTING
1. Sitting in straight-back chair, place your arms behind the chair and bring your shoulders back as far as possible; raise your head up and look at the ceiling.

2. Sitting In the same chair, grip the ends of a broom or mop stick with both hands, try to raise it over your head until you get it behind your head. Keep head and shoulders as erect as possible.

3. Sitting in same chair, place one leg at a time on another chair and press the knee straight. Keep it there 15 minutes. Try both legs together.

4. Sitting in a chair, raise legs up from the knee alternately, as if stamping your feet.

LYING ON A FIRM BED OR FLOOR
1. Lie on the floor or bed, flat on your back; try to press your body to the floor as flat as possible. Move your head from right to left as far as possible. Make sure your head, shoulders, back, and knees touch the surface.

2. Lie on the floor or bed on your abdomen. Do the following one by one:

1. Put your hands behind back and look up to ceiling, trying to raise your chest off the floor.
2. Kick your legs alternately, as if swimming.
3. Turn your head from right to left.

FOR BETTER BALANCE
1. Stand with hands on hips, feet spread apart:

1. Practice marching in place
2. Practice raising leg straight out to the rear.
3. Practice raising leg out to the side.
4. Practice drawing a circle with the leg.

2. Standing with hands at side, feet spread apart:

1. Lean forward and back
2. Lean to both sides
3. Lean in a circular motion and reverse the motion

FOR WALKING
1. When walking, REMEMBER:

1. Take as large a step as possible
2. Raise your toes as you step forward, hitting ground with your heels
3. Keep legs apart and posture straight
4. Swing arms and look straight ahead - your feet know where the floor is located.

2. Collect a dozen magazines; lay them out in a straight line. Space them so that you can take as long a step as possible. Practice walking over these magazines without stepping on them.

3. For a better swing to arms, walk holding a rolled magazine in each hand; keep elbows straight.

4. Practice walking sideways, backwards, and take big steps.

FOR TURNING
1. When practicing turning:

1. Keep feet spread-apart and head high
2. Use small steps; rock front side to side
3. Raise legs from the knees

2. If you feel glued to the floor:

1. Raise your head, relax back on your heels and raise your toes
2. Rock from side to side, bend knees slightly and straighten up and lift your toes
3. It sometimes helps if the arms are raised in a sudden short motion

FOR GETTING IN AND OUT OF A CHAIR
1. If you become glued a few steps before you reach the chair, try this: Don't aim for the chair but some object past it. Pass the chair as closely as possible and as you go by it sit down.

2. To sit down, bend forward as far as possible and sit down slowly. Get close to the chair. Do not fall into the chair.

3. To get up, move to the edge of the chair, bend forward and push up vigorously using your arms; try to count 1 2 3 GO! If you have a favorite armchair, raise the back legs with 4" blocks. This will help you to get up easily. Don't let people drag you up by your arms, but help you by pulling you under your arms, or with a slight push on your back.

FOR GETTING OUT OF BED
1. Place blocks under the legs of the head of the bed. This will elevate the head of the bed, & make it easier for you to sit up and swing the legs off the bed.

2. A knotted rope tied to the foot of the bed can help you to pull yourself up.

3. To get to a sitting position, shift the body down and rock yourself by vigorously, throwing your arms and legs toward the side of the bed.

FOR USING YOUR ARMS AND HANDS
1. Practice buttoning and unbuttoning your clothes; practice cutting food and writing. Squeeze a ball or work with "Silly Putty." Keep your fingers busy many times a day. Tear paper; take coins out of the pocket; play the piano.

2. Always try to dress yourself completely. Use shoehorns, elastic laces, or extra-long shoelaces to get a better grip. Dress in the most relaxed and comfortable position, sitting or standing, but make sure you are in a safe position.

3. To keep elbows straight and shoulders loose, install a pulley in doorway, place a chair under it or slightly in front. Stretch your arms and shoulders in all directions. By working the pulley when seated, you can get a more vigorous pull.

FOR GREATER SAFETY IN BATHTUB AND TOILET
If it is difficult to sit down in a bathtub, try the following:

1. Place a bench, stool or chair inside the tub; have the legs sawed off to tub height. Sit on the chair and soap yourself. Use shower to rinse, or rubber shower extension.

2. Bathtub grab bars are available. Purchase only those that attach securely.

3. Raised toilet seats are commercially available.

4. Toilet armrest for getting on and off the toilet are available.

FOR SPEECH, FACE AND CHEWING DIFFICULTIES
1. Practice singing and reading aloud with forceful lip movements. Talk into a tape recorder, if one is available.

2. Practice making faces in front of a mirror. Recite the alphabet and count numbers with exaggerated facial motions. Massage your face with vigor when washing and bathing.

3. When chewing food, chew hard and move the food around; avoid swallowing large lumps.

The previously outlined general exercises and suggestions are designed to help you. They are ancillary to medical treatment which should be carried out in consultation with your physician. In special instances where other diseases are associated with parkinsonism, your physician may wish to limit the intensity of your physical activity. Conversely, more intensive physical therapy may be indicated and in some instances should be done under the direction of a physical therapist.

All activities possible should be engaged in: work, walking, shopping, house chores, gardening, visiting, senior clubs, church organizations, travel, theater, swimming, sports, gymnasium, health clubs, "Y" activities, etc.

For more information and resources about Parkinson's disease you can check out www.parkinsonresearchfoundation.org It's one of the most comprehensive websites on the internet for Parkinson's disease information.

Dancing for all ages at Dennis Senior Center

2009-07-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

SOUTH DENNIS - Alyce Potvin, 97, grimaced and waved to the reporter entering the room. Potvin, along with six other senior citizens with more than 80 birthdays behind them, were “dancing” to the music Golden Age Society director Avis Kaeselau had playing.

“We talk, we have lunch, we exercise. It’s fun here,” said Potvin, who had impishly skirted the senior center’s van destined for her biweekly group. Instead, she first opted to grocery shop at Patriot Square. “Have you ever tasted this?” she asked of a bottle of country French salad dressing. “I thought I’d try it. I like salads. Don’t eat much of anything else these days.”

Although Potvin wouldn’t say if her dietary preferences are the secret to longevity, she walks unassisted and is happy to participate in the Golden Age Society. “It’s just what the doctor ordered,” she said, giggling since her doctor had ordered no such thing.

Following lunch on a recent Friday, the group was exercising under Kaeselau’s direction. “Tighten your knee and stick your other foot out,” she encouraged. “OK, Dottie, you’re doing great. Ten more beats, then you can rest.”

The five women and two men come every Tuesday and Friday to enjoy time together. They help and encourage each other, sensitive to the various needs that accompany age.

“I have a dream, a song to sing, it helps me cope with everything,” sang Abba, as the group of seniors rotated their arms and ankles. “This will help keep you stable,” Kaeselau said, encouraging them to reach further.

As the workout proceeded, it became clear that one woman needed assistance, and it came quickly. “OK, you’re OK now,” Kaeselau said. Relief washed over the others as they continued the routine. “Now let’s end it gently by walking in place,” Kaeselau encouraged.
“Such exercise!” said Don, a man well into his 80s.

In her heyday, Roberta “Bobby” Guarante, was in the WAVES during World War II. Asked if she enjoyed dancing with the GIs, Guarante said, “I love to dance, but I’m not good at it.” Others shared their dancing backgrounds, including Dottie Glidden of South Dennis, who said she met her husband 50 years ago at Kimball’s Starlight Ballroom, just outside Wakefield.

As the group scattered for their return home on the senior center’s van, Potvin said, “It’s nice to come here. You meet lots of people your own age who understand you.”

Kaeselau said the program prevents isolation. “Most of them don’t drive anymore, they live alone or with children or a spouse. They have different degrees of mental and physical limitations, but they enjoy this program at whatever level they’re able to participate.”

Kaeselau, who in 1972 became Massachusetts’ first female emergency medical technician, is prepared for any medical emergencies that may occur during the 4-hour program. “They’re very safe with me,” she said.

Baby-boomer opportunities
The Dennis Senior Center offers many weekday programs for retired folks. These range from opportunities to play bridge, mahjongg and cribbage with other like-minded folks to learning to paint, operate computers, cane chairs and build model ships.

Designed for younger seniors still working, offerings include Mary Jane Doonan’s tap-dancing classes beginning at 5 p.m. Mondays.

With students ranging from 50 to 78, Doonan offers beginner and intermediate tap classes. “The intermediates are a combination of people who started with me five or six years ago and moved up and those who excelled at tapping as children and have returned in their later years,” Noonan said.

The classes are an opportunity for women to exercise together to music. One dancer’s pedometer testifies to burning about 500 calories per hour.

“People can come with leather-sole shoes for the first classes because tap shoes are expensive, and I want them to be sure they want to continue before investing in shoes,” Noonan said.

One tapper, a former ballerina who has Parkinson’s disease, finds that her body moves fine during classes, Noonan said.

Noonan’s tappers perform at Cape and off-Cape venues, but those who are shy are not forced to travel with the group. “Some ladies auditioned for the National AARP convention at the Boston Civic Center,” Noonan said. “About 100 groups auditioned, and 20 were selected. My girls and I were selected, and we performed all three nights.”

Tap-dancing keeps women in mental and physical shape. “It’s also good for memory, because you need to recall your steps,” Noonan said.

A square dancing group convenes Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Dancer Johanna d’Entremont, who serves as the group’s secretary, said this is the only square dancing group this side of the bridge, gathering participants from across the Cape.

Some come in costume, but most square dancers wear casual attire. “Some of our women have learned the man’s part because sometimes we’re short of men,” d’Entremont said. “Square dancing is excellent exercise and it’s a wonderful way to socialize, to meet people who share an interest.”

D’Entremont and her husband got involved in the group through Vida and Dan Demale, a couple in their 80s. “I took a computer class at the Eastham Senior Center and Vida recruited me,” she said. “They picked us up, brought us to Dennis, and that was it. We’re hooked!”

Exercise May Aid Parkinson’s Patients

2009-06-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

ScienceDaily (May 16, 2007) — A new study from researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) shows that treadmill exercises may benefit patients with Parkinson's Disease and those with similar movement disorders.
See also:

Recent studies have shown that exercise can have beneficial effects in patients with Parkinson's Disease but the underlying reasons haven't been fully explored. This new study using treadmill exercise in animal models looked at the effects of dopamine in motor learning and execution.

Parkinson's Disease is a chronic and degenerative disease that leads to slowness, balance disorders, tremors and difficulty in walking. The disease results from the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. It is critical as a stimulator of motor system nerves in the body. While there is no current cure for the disease, several treatments do offer relief from its symptoms.

This particular study looked at treadmill exercise and its effects between animal models with and without a loss of certain cells that are similar to what a Parkinson's Patient might suffer. Given the importance of dopamine in Parkinson's Disease, the researchers looked at changes in dopamine levels, among other results.

Researchers found that the subjects with cell loss and that exercised indeed had an effect on dopamine levels while normal subjects showed less of a difference in levels.

"Our study shows that the beneficial effects of exercise in Parkinson's Disease may be due to a more efficient use of dopamine, "says Giselle Petzinger, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and the study's first author. "Surviving dopamine cells in our animal models- made to simulate what Parkinson's patients suffer with- subjected to intensive treadmill exercise appear to work harder."

Studies with John Walsh, Ph.D., associate professor at the USC Andrus Gerontology Center and a co-investigator of the study, showed that these cells release greater amounts of dopamine and decrease the rate of its removal from the synapse compared to neurons in subjects that do not undergo exercise.

The findings suggest that the benefits of treadmill exercise on motor performance may be accompanied by changes in dopamine neurotransmission that are different in the injured subjects compared to the non-injured."Studies in our animal model of Parkinson's disease support the fact that exercise is beneficial for patients with Parkinson's," says Jakowec. "Exercise may help the injured brain to work more efficiently by allowing the remaining dopamine producing neurons to work harder and in doing so may promote stronger connections in the brain."

Further studies will investigate if beneficial effects of exercise have long-term effect on the injured brain, identifying the molecular links between exercise and the brain, and to better understand the molecular mechanisms within neurons that lead to these changes.

The study is led by USC neuroscientist Michael Jakowec, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurology and appears in the May 16 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience.

Funding for this study comes from the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Team Parkinson Los Angeles, the George and MaryLou Boone Foundation, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the US Army Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Research Program.

Reference: "Effects of Treadmill Exercise on Dopaminergic Transmission in the 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine-Lesioned Mouse Model of Basal Ganglia Injury", Petzinger, G.,Walsh, J.,Akopian, G., Hogg, E., Abernathy, A., Arevalo, P.,Turnquist, P., Vuckovic, M., Fisher, B.,Togasaki, D., Jakowec, M. Journal of Neuroscience, May 16, 2007.

Rehab Can Be Fun And Games

2009-06-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

Music is helping Sally Smith find her groove.

In recent years, the tremors of Parkinson's disease have made many once-routine tasks a lot more difficult for the Topeka woman. She says she had trouble walking, sitting up straight and balancing.

She even struggled to get up from a chair, which made her feel left out at her Eagles Auxiliary meetings. When everyone else would stand to salute the flag, Sally says, she would always be sitting at the table.

Kansas Rehab therapist Karen Farron is helping Sally overcome those challenges. Many of the tools they use, though, fancy – scarves and balls for instance.

Farron says therapists at Kansas Rehab evaluate people’s strengths and people’s challenges and identify exercises to address them in a fun way. She says most people don't like to exercise, but if when told they'll feel like a kid again, it's a less threatening way to begin.

The fun does serve a serious purpose. Reaching for the scarves, for example, improves range of motion. A series of exercises with raquetballs works on coordination and grasping skills. The balls even helped Sally work to easily rise from a chair again. Ferron explains that bouncing the ball already has the weight shifted forward, and focusing on the bouncing of the ball helps a person complete the standing movement without thinking.

Many of the tasks are founded in rhythm. Working with an interactive metronome program helps patients like Sally see the reaction time in their movements. It’s a feeling that can be mimicked with music.

Ferron says Parkinson's patients in particular often have difficulty initiating movement. She says they know what they want to do but the information doesn’t translate into action. She says rhythm will help initiate movement without hesitation, which decreases the risk of falling and the feeling of frustration.

Using rhythm also helps reinforce new ways of doing familiar actions to improve function, like drawing or writing. Just a few days after learning new strategies for forming letters, Sally's writing went from illegible to clear.

Ferros says using exercises with concrete results offers another benefit. She says instead of telling a doctor they simply don't feel right, a patient can offer very specific information, such as the how much longer it takes to get up and down, or the number of steps it's now taking to cover a certain distance.

Sally says it’s working for her. She's noticed a marked improvement, and is proud she’s once again able to join in that show of patriotism, standing with her fellow group members to salute the flag.

Go The Pilates Way For A Healthy Heart, Back And Toned Body

2009-05-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

We humans are always in the quest for the ultimate, most ideal and effective exercise mantra. Pilates is the hot and happening craze among several celebrities laying high claims of the benefits of this exercise technique. This body training technique dates back to the eighteen century where it was first introduced by a man Pilates in Germany, who despite having debilitating ailments like rickets and asthma, overcame his shortcomings and gave to the world, Pilates, a revitalizing experience combining all the senses of mind, body and soul.

The technique aims to accomplish litheness and body strength, laying less emphasis on develop muscle mass. It encompasses exercises aimed at achieve composure, focus, movement, muscle tone and agility.

Pilates resembles Yoga is many ways than one. Both employ the dual mind-body exercise practice, both pays attention to breathing and fluid movements to relax muscle and tone it. Yoga is more static form of the exercise while Pilates is a sequence of more energetic and methodical fluid movements.

Pilates, though not vigorous in nature, is excellent add-on to walking, swimming, and cycling. As it facilitates stress lowering, it encourages long term healthy heart condition.

Many with the debilitating Parkinson’s disease has immense problem in controlling their body movements. These people develop shakiness and shivering, due to which they cannot co-ordinate their movements, and become excessively inflexible and unbending. Many have to resort to medications to even carry out day-to-day movements. For such patients, Pilates comes as a God-sent. People suffering from Parkinson’s disease have meek breathing patterns while reduces the oxygen intake in the body.

Pilates lays emphasis on breathing and firming and strengthening of the key muscle areas. The key muscle areas exercised during Pilates help regain good body posture. The key emphasis is doing fluid, small movements, which is ideal for physiotherapy.

Pilates is an extremely lithe form of exercise routine which can be altered to suit every life style. The neurological disorder of Fibromyalgia, where one experiences severe body pain all over the body accompanied by severe fatigue seems to be treated by Pilates. Pilates offers add-on treatment to provide relief from some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

People experiencing lower back pain experience great change with the onset of Pilates. Pilates improves one’s immunity and aids in averting injury. It greatly tones one’s body, improves one’s posture, ideal for people with arthritis.

Tango and Parkinson's Disease

2009-05-02T04:33:00.000-07:00

Effects of Tango on Functional Mobility in Parkinson's Disease: A Preliminary Study. (Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy)
That is the lesson from a new study reporting that when Parkinson’s patients took tango classes, their balance improved.

Problems with walking and balance are common among people with the disease, and often lead to falls. Among the difficulties, the researchers said, are shuffling and trouble turning while walking. Patients may experience a sudden “freezing” that can either slow them down or stop them entirely. They also have trouble walking while performing another activity at the same time.

The study appears in the December issue of The Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy. The lead author is Madeleine E. Hackney of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The researchers described what happened when 19 Parkinson’s patients were given either 20 tango classes or 20 exercise classes. The exercise class consisted of one hour of movement, much of it in chairs or using chairs for support. The tango class was more vigorous, and focused on stretching, balance, footwork and timing.

Both groups demonstrated general improvement, but only the tango students appeared to do better when it came to balance. The improvement was fairly limited, and the researchers said more study was needed.

Physical Therapist Helps Parkinson's Patients Move It!

2009-04-26T04:22:00.001-07:00

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.

Virtual Reality Eases Walking for Parkinson's Patients

2009-04-19T02:29:00.000-07:00

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

Parkinson's Disease: Exercise and Parkinson's Disease

2009-04-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

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

Stay Active Helps Man with Parkinson's Disease

2009-04-05T04:35:00.000-07:00

SAINT JOHN - Merv Cormier knows first-hand the feelings of fear, depression and "why me?" that those first diagnosed with Parkinson's disease experience.
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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.

Exercise for Parkinson Patients

2009-03-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

SOURCE: Center for Neurological Studies

Know the facts. The maintenance of normal muscle tone and function is an important aspect of the treatment of parkinsonism. In part, medication administered for your illness achieves this goal. However, to realize the full benefit of the medication daily exercise and activity are essential. This booklet outlines some of the exercises capable of maintaining muscle power and tone and preventing deformities of the limbs and spine. Their daily performance has proved most beneficial to patients with this illness.
TEN BASIC EXERCISES FOR THE PARKINSON PATIENT

1. Bring the toes up with every step you take. In Parkinson's disease, "you never make a move", without lifting the toes.
2. Spread the legs (10 inches) when walking or turning, to provide a wide base, a better stance, and to prevent falling. It may not look "beautiful," but neither does falling.

3. For greater safety in turning, use small steps, with feet widely separated. Never cross one leg over the other when turning. Practice walking a few yards and turn. Walk in the opposite direction and turn. Do so fifteen minutes a day.

4. Practice walking into tight corners of a room, to overcome fear of close places.

5. To insure good body balance, practice rapid excursions of the body. Backward, forward and to the right and left, five minutes, several times a day. Don't look for a wall when you think you are falling. It may not be there. Your body will always be there to protect you, if you will practice balance daily.

6. When the legs feel frozen or "glued" to the floor, a lift of the toes eliminates muscle spasm and the fear of falling. You are free to walk again.

7. Swing the arms freely when walking. It helps to take body weight off the legs, lessens fatigue, and loosens the arms and shoulders.

8. If getting out of a chair is difficult, rise with "lightning speed," to overcome the "pull of gravity." Sitting down should be done slow, with body bent sharply forward, until one touches the seat. Practice this at least a dozen times a day.

9. If the body lists to one side, carry a shopping bag loaded with books or other weights in the opposite hand to decrease the bend.

10. Any task that is difficult, such as buttoning a shirt. or getting out of bed, if practiced 20 times it day, becomes easier the 21st time.

FOR TIGHT MUSCLES AND POOR POSTURE

STANDING

1. Stand ln front of a wall, facing it about 8" away. Raise arms and reach as high as possible toward the top of the wall. Lean toward the wall and stretch.
2. With your back to the wall, alternate raising legs as high as possible by bending the knee as if marching in place.

3. Holding on to something secure, squat down as far as possible, bending knees; then come up.

SITTING

1. Sitting in straight-back chair, place your arms behind the chair and bring your shoulders back as far as possible; raise your head up and look at the ceiling.
2. Sitting In the same chair, grip the ends of a broom or mop stick with both hands, try to raise it over your head until you get it behind your head. Keep head and shoulders as erect as possible.

3. Sitting in same chair, place one leg at a time on another chair and press the knee straight. Keep it there 15 minutes. Try both legs together.

4. Sitting in a chair, raise legs up from the knee alternately, as if stamping your feet.

LYING ON A FIRM BED OR FLOOR

1. Lie on the floor or bed, flat on your back; try to press your body to the floor as flat as possible. Move your head from right to left as far as possible. Make sure your head, shoulders, back, and knees touch the surface.
2. Lie on the floor or bed on your abdomen. Do the following one by one:

Put your hands behind back and look up to ceiling, trying to raise your chest off the floor.
Kick your legs alternately, as if swimming.
Turn your head from right to left.
FOR BETTER BALANCE

1. Stand with hands on hips, feet spread apart:
Practice marching in place
Practice raising leg straight out to the rear.
Practice raising leg out to the side.
Practice drawing a circle with the leg.
2. Standing with hands at side, feet spread apart:
Lean forward and back
Lean to both sides
Lean in a circular motion and reverse the motion
FOR WALKING

1. When walking, REMEMBER:
Take as large a step as possible
Raise your toes as you step forward, hitting ground with your heels
Keep legs apart and posture straight
Swing arms and look straight ahead - your feet know where the floor is located.
2. Collect a dozen magazines; lay them out in a straight line. Space them so that you can take as long a step as possible. Practice walking over these magazines without stepping on them.
3. For a better swing to arms, walk holding a rolled magazine in each hand; keep elbows straight.

4. Practice walking sideways, backwards, and take big steps.

FOR TURNING

1. When practicing turning:
Keep feet spread-apart and head high
Use small steps; rock front side to side
Raise legs from the knees
2. If you feel glued to the floor:
Raise your head, relax back on your heels and raise your toes
Rock from side to side, bend knees slightly and straighten up and lift your toes
It sometimes helps if the arms are raised in a sudden short motion
FOR GETTING IN AND OUT OF A CHAIR

1. If you become glued a few steps before you reach the chair, try this: Don't aim for the chair but some object past it. Pass the chair as closely as possible and as you go by it sit down.
2. To sit down, bend forward as far as possible and sit down slowly. Get close to the chair. Do not fall into the chair.

3. To get up, move to the edge of the chair, bend forward and push up vigorously using your arms; try to count 1 2 3 GO! If you have a favorite armchair, raise the back legs with 4" blocks. This will help you to get up easily. Don't let people drag you up by your arms, but help you by pulling you under your arms, or with a slight push on your back.

FOR GETTING OUT OF BED

1. Place blocks under the legs of the head of the bed. This will elevate the head of the bed, & make it easier for you to sit up and swing the legs off the bed.
2. A knotted rope tied to the foot of the bed can help you to pull yourself up.

3. To get to a sitting position, shift the body down and rock yourself by vigorously, throwing your arms and legs toward the side of the bed.

FOR USING YOUR ARMS AND HANDS

1. Practice buttoning and unbuttoning your clothes; practice cutting food and writing. Squeeze a ball or work with "Silly Putty." Keep your fingers busy many times a day. Tear paper; take coins out of the pocket; play the piano.
2. Always try to dress yourself completely. Use shoehorns, elastic laces, or extra-long shoelaces to get a better grip. Dress in the most relaxed and comfortable position, sitting or standing, but make sure you are in a safe position.

3. To keep elbows straight and shoulders loose, install a pulley in doorway, place a chair under it or slightly in front. Stretch your arms and shoulders in all directions. By working the pulley when seated, you can get a more vigorous pull.

FOR GREATER SAFETY IN BATHTUB AND TOILET

If it is difficult to sit down in a bathtub, try the following:
1. Place a bench, stool or chair inside the tub; have the legs sawed off to tub height. Sit on the chair and soap yourself. Use shower to rinse, or rubber shower extension.

2. Bathtub grab bars are available. Purchase only those that attach securely.

3. Raised toilet seats are commercially available.

4. Toilet armrest for getting on and off the toilet are available.

FOR SPEECH, FACE AND CHEWING DIFFICULTIES

1. Practice singing and reading aloud with forceful lip movements. Talk into a tape recorder, if one is available.
2. Practice making faces in front of a mirror. Recite the alphabet and count numbers with exaggerated facial motions. Massage your face with vigor when washing and bathing.

3. When chewing food, chew hard and move the food around; avoid swallowing large lumps.

The previously outlined general exercises and suggestions are designed to help you. They are ancillary to medical treatment which should be carried out in consultation with your physician. In special instances where other diseases are associated with parkinsonism, your physician may wish to limit the intensity of your physical activity. Conversely, more intensive physical therapy may be indicated and in some instances should be done under the direction of a physical therapist.

All activities possible should be engaged in: work, walking, shopping, house chores, gardening, visiting, senior clubs, church organizations, travel, theater, swimming, sports, gymnasium, health clubs, "Y" activities, etc.

Physio sessions help patients with Parkinson's disease

2009-03-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dileas Sweetenham sits back in her chair and says "aaah".

She's not at the doctor's – but she might as well be.

For she is one of a group of people getting regular physiotherapy for Parkinson's disease.

Exercise is a central part of a monthly session run by the Bath branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Members are offered a range of exercises designed to keep joints supple and improve general fitness.

The aim is to make automatic movement easier, with even facial muscles targeted.

Roughly half of people with the disease develop speech and communication problems, so speech exercises are also taught.

Exercises are done sitting and standing and sometimes include tai chi.

Retired GP Dileas said: "I believe exercise keeps our bodies in use – if you don't use it, you lose it. The exercise keeps me supple."

Physiotherapist Gay Moore also gives advice on specific problems associated with Parkinson's disease, such as posture and gait, balance and dexterity.

The sessions at the United Reformed Church in Odd Down finish with five minutes of dancing as movement to music has been found to help with improving sufferers' rhythm in walking.

Dileas discovered she had Parkinson's in 2003 and the 75- year-old joined the branch a year later.

Now chairman of the Bath group, she is closely involved in co-ordinating a parallel set of monthly meetings at Foxhill Community Centre.

She regularly invites medical speakers such as neurologists and academics.

Dileas said: "The lectures are very useful and it lets us keep abreast with what is going on.

"It's a chance to meet other sufferers and forge friendships."

The disease affects one in 500 people around the UK. Symptoms will usually appear in people over the age of 50 but one in 20 of those diagnosed every year will be under 40.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Parkinson's Disease Society and the charity says it wants 2009 to be a "breakthrough year".

The branch meets twice a month, once at the church hall in Odd Down for physiotherapy sessions and once at the community centre for a social meeting.

Tai chi may help Parkinson's patients

2009-03-07T07:32:00.001-08:00

MIAMI (Reuters Health) - While people with Parkinson's disease are very interested in using complementary and alternative medicine to treat their symptoms, there has been little study on whether such therapies can help them, Lyvonne Carreiro reported here at the Seventh International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders.

But two small studies--one conducted by Carreiro and her colleagues--suggest that Tai Chi and the herb yohimbine, respectively, may help reduce falls in Parkinson's patients. People with this progressive neurological disorder suffer from tremor, muscle rigidity and movement problems.

Carreiro, a Parkinson's disease care coordinator at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, surveyed 75 patients at her center about their knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine.

"There is a lot of interest in alternative therapies for Parkinson's disease, but not enough information," she told Reuters Health. "Patients should let their physicians know if they're interested in such treatments."

Carreiro's team found that 54% of the respondents understood the definition of complementary and alternative medicine. Among the respondents, 23% mistakenly believed these treatments were part of most medical schools' coursework, and 51% believed herbs can be safely taken with medication. Most said they were interested in such therapies, but would only use them if prescribed by their medical doctor.

In the past year, 48% of the respondents had used these treatments. Among those who had, 45% had taken Tai Chi classes; 36% had used yoga and 27% had used acupuncture. Carreiro noted that several respondents had used multiple strategies and that 36% of respondents had used massage, 24% had practiced meditation, 45% used spiritual healing or prayer, and 15% used herbal therapies.

Noting that 80% of respondents believe that complementary and alternative medicine could improve their Parkinson's disease, Carreiro pointed out that there is a need for more well-controlled scientific studies to see if this belief is warranted.

In her own practice, she and her colleagues found that Tai Chi appeared to reduce the number of falls in Parkinson's patients. The investigators followed 30 patients with Parkinson's disease who were randomly assigned to a Tai Chi group or a "control" group. The people who evaluated their records of falls and stability scores did not know which patients were controls and which received Tai Chi lessons. Tai Chi patients had one-hour weekly Tai Chi classes for 12 consecutive weeks.

The Tai Chi patients were less likely than controls to have an increase in the severity of their Parkinson's disease and less likely to have a decline in motor function. The reduction in fall frequency was 18 times greater for the Tai Chi patients, said Carreiro. She told Reuters Health that people with Parkinson's disease who want to study Tai Chi must make sure the instructor is familiar with their condition and will accommodate their needs.

Other research on complementary and alternative medicine shows that some herbal or botanical therapies bear out their good reputations while others deliver less than adequately.

In a study on yohimbine, Dr. Ruth Djaldetti and colleagues at Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus in Petach Tiqva, Israel, found that the use of yohimbine was associated with a 50% reduction in the number of falls. They treated 11 patients who either had Parkinson's disease or other parkinsonian syndromes.

Dr. M. G. Jabre and colleagues in Byblos, Lebanon, studied the use of fava beans as the only treatment in five patients who had not yet received any Parkinson's medication. Their rationale was that fava beans are chemically similar to levodopa, the mainstay medication in Parkinson's treatment. Although the investigators found no statistically significant improvement in the patients' conditions, two of the five were satisfied and wanted to continue with fava beans.

Dance class lifts Parkinson's patients' spirits

2009-02-25T10:40:00.000-08:00

Rush University Medical Center, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago team up to test whether participation alters degenerative disease

By John Biemer

Special to the Tribune

February 25, 2009

The dancers followed their instructor's lead: "Heels together, toes apart," she said, and together they gently bent their knees and stretched their arms in graceful strokes.

But some of the students' hands trembled as they gripped the free-standing ballet barre in the center of the studio. A couple of walkers beside the wall indicated this was no typical dance class.

The weekly gathering for people with Parkinson's disease—a neurological disorder that causes tremors, rigidity and difficulty moving—began last summer as a collaboration between Rush University Medical Center and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, located on the city's Near West Side. Since then, participants say, it has helped them build confidence and dexterity, while forming a tight-knit community among patients who often struggle with feelings of isolation and helplessness.

Sarah Cullen Fuller, who danced with the Hubbard Street company for nine seasons and teaches the class as a volunteer, said she has watched the participants progress from barely standing and making only small, tentative movements to bolder, more expressive dancing. On a recent Saturday, the dancers sat in a circle of folding chairs as the class began and introduced themselves to new participants.

"I find this class to be magic," said Michael Lieb, 68, of Oak Park, a retired University of Illinois-Chicago English professor found to have Parkinson's nine years ago. "This circle we're in is magic, and the person that's responsible is Sarah. She's an angel."

Rush University doctors, meanwhile, are studying the participants to determine if the dancing is not just lifting their spirits, but in fact altering some of the degenerative nature of the disease.

Parkinson's affects up to 1 percent of the population, according to Dr. James Young, Rush's chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation, with onset typically in people older than 50, but sometimes younger.

The motor problems common to the disease—perhaps best known because of afflicted celebrities Muhammad Ali and Michael J. Fox—are caused by a loss of the brain cells that produce dopamine, an important chemical messenger in the brain.

There is no known cure for Parkinson's, though medications relieve some of the symptoms. Rush researchers are trying to figure out if moving to the music—and stimulating the right hemisphere of the brain associated with creativity—also may help patients rediscover or even reinvent ways to gain their balance and move fluidly.

"This is going to the next step of scientific research, rehabilitative information and probably an insight into the disease that we've never really had," Young said. "That's why we're all sort of excited, because it's sort of like we've just discovered something wonderful and you say, 'Wait a minute, I don't know what it is, but let's find out.' "

Young, Fuller and her husband, who's a chiropractor, got the idea from a similar dance class for Parkinson's patients started by the Mark Morris Dance Group in New York City—although Young said no research was conducted on that group. The Hubbard Street class is paid for by private donations and is free for attendees.

About 20 people showed up on a recent Saturday afternoon. A pianist who plays anything from Beethoven to tangos to rock infuses the class with additional energy and spontaneity. Parkinson's patients—and their caregivers—said the gathering is both fun and supportive.

"The patients end up surprising themselves by being able to do more physically than they thought they were able to do," said Mariel Stitziel, 67, of Oak Park, who attended with her husband, Will, 72, who has Parkinson's.

When Mary Lou Tromanhauser, 72, of Westchester attended her first class, it stirred memories of the dance studio she ran in northwest Chicago for more than 30 years. Tromanhauser had noticed her handwriting slipping about a year and a half ago. The symptoms worsened, and she received a diagnosis of Parkinson's this month.

"I can't believe [this class] exists," she told the circle of dancers at the start of class. Her eyes welled with tears. "I can't believe I found it. I'm so happy to be here."

Chicago Tribune

Fantastic 'Frontline' episode: 'My Father, My Brother and Me'

2009-02-17T16:09:00.001-08:00

posted by Audrea Huff on Feb 3, 2009 11:54:44 PM

PBS' "Frontline" series aired tonight an amazing episode about Parkinson's disease called "My Father, My Brother and Me."

It was produced and narrated by journalist Dave Iverson, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2004 -- and is now the third person in his immediate family with it.

So Iverson set out to try to understand the disease, talking with other Parkinson's sufferers as well as leading researchers in the field. Actor Michael J. Fox, a man who has seen remarkable improvement after an experimental surgery and political journalist Michael Kinsley all spoke candidly about their experiences.

What Iverson also learned: Exercise may play a pivotal role in reducing or delaying the effects of the disease.

Iverson went to the University of Pittsburgh, where researchers were using monkeys to study the relationship between exercise and Parkinsons. In a study, one group of monkeys were made to walk on treadmills regularly; another sedentary group sat and watched. After 3 months, both groups were given MPTP, a drug that causes Parkinson's symptoms. The sedentary monkeys lost motor control. But the treadmill monkeys showed few, if any, Parkinson's symptoms.

Says one leading researcher [to "Frontline"]: "It's not at all hard for me to imagine that the results of a properly designed exercise program are going to be more effective than many of the medications and surgeries we have now."

Clearly, Parkinson's is complicated and has many causes, and exercise will not be effective for all forms or even for all people. But the research shows exercise may play a role in treatment of this -- for now -- incurable disease.

* Read a Parkinson's fact sheet at PBS.org here: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/parkinsons/etc/faqs.html

* And see the entire "Frontline" episode "My Father, My Brother and Me" here, with chapters, at PBS.org: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/video/flv/generic.html?s=frol02p6c7&continuous=1

Boxing Hazards: Low Blows, Head butts and Parkinson's

2009-02-12T07:51:00.000-08:00

Posted Feb 11, 2009 by ■ Leo Reyes

Kevin lole of Yahoo sports reported in his column that the Vic Darchinyan-Jorge Arce fight held at the Honda Center was a one-sided fight. He was suggesting that one-sided fights need quicker stoppages.

Boxing enthusiasts would definitely agree with Kevin on his thoughts about one-sided matches. Fight referees will know during the fight and at certain rounds when the fight appears to be one-sided.

In the case of the boxing match between Vic Darchinyan and Jorge Arce that was held at the Honda Center last February 8, 2009, it was very clear that Jorge Arce was losing the game from early rounds to past halfway of the 12 rounder fight. Darchinyan was dominating the fight from all angles and he inflicted so much damage on Arce both in the body and the head. The referee could have stopped the fight to save Arce from continued attack on the head and body by Darchinyan.

On the 11th round, the ring physician finally instructed the referee to stop the fight. Fight fans agreed with Kevin that it was a one-sided fight from the very start and should have been stopped by the referee much earlier in the round.

True enough, Arce was hurt and rushed to a nearby hospital in a stretcher after the fight was stopped on the 11th round. He was apparently complaining of about pain at the back of his head. Arce was later released from the hospital early Sunday morning. He admitted that he felt ‘unbalanced’ following the post fight conference.

Head butts and power blows that land on boxer’s head have devastating effect on the brain of boxers when the blows hit certain areas of the head. The effect of these power blows may not show while the boxer is actively fighting but it could affect the brain which, in most cases, leads to Parkinson’s disease.

Some of the world’s most popular boxers, including Muhammad Ali have contracted Parkinson’s disease as a result of too many power head blows, though the some studies have not provided conclusive findings linking repeated head blows on boxers to Parkinson’s diseases.

Adriana Stuijt wrote in her article published by Digital Journal said: ‘Many die young, beaten up to a pulp, or end up with permanent brain and eye damage. Often they suffered early dementia from brain damage, and boxers often suffer much sooner than other people their age of early-aging diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease’.

In her article about the health hazards of boxing, Adriana cited several instances where young boxers have died because of the brain damages caused by powerful head blows.

Recent developments in boxing that touched on the health hazards of the trade have been widely publicized. On top of the many cases cited by Adriana in her article, other disturbing developments related to the game of boxing have recently surfaced. A case in point is the recent discovery by the California Sports Commission of a certain substance that was placed inside the gloves of Antonio Margarito in his recent fight with Shane Mosley, most probably to gain an advantage in his favor.

If not for the vigilance of the California Sports regulators, the substance that the Margarito camp inserted inside Margarito’s gloves could have caused Mosley’s life. Margarito and his trainer have been found guilty and suspended from professional boxing fights in the state of California for one year.

Since boxing as a form of sports is legal in almost all countries of the world, concerned citizens can only do so much. The better option is perhaps to repeal the applicable laws or declare boxing as a form of sports as illegal.

In the meantime, governments must be vigilant and very strict about the implementation of all laws related to the game of boxing. Regulating agencies must be held accountable for any injuries or deaths that may occur as a result of negligence on the part of boxing referees, trainers, managers, promoters and other personalities that are involved in the game.

Dance therapy gets Parkinson's patients moving again

2009-02-05T14:43:00.001-08:00

The progressive nature of Parkinson's Disease can make walking a challenge. Now, a new study is helping Parkinson's patients dance into a more mobile future.

Don Ablins tried physical therapy to help manage his Parkinson's Disease, but it isn't a favorite.

Now he's stepping out of his comfort zone into a dance class that's anything but dull.

Doctors say dance therapy has a different effect on patients, and for many individiauls it's like a back door into therapy.

Rush University Medical Center is studying the effect dance has on Parkinson's patients. Dr. James Young says "it allows them to have a certain fluidity of their movements. Now we know that patients with Parkinson's need the movements, they need the space."

The classes are led by a former professional dancer, who encourages stretching and movement.

This spring, Dr. Young's team will start using brain scans to gain a better understanding of why the dance classes are so effective with these patients.

Parkinson's Virtual Reality Gait Training Device Improves Quality of Life

2009-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

Haifa, Israel (PRWEB) January 26, 2009 -- Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis patients are discovering first-hand that daily exercise with a new virtual reality device, the GaitAid Virtual Walker, has a positive effect on their walking ability, minimizing balance problems and improving quality of life.

GaitAid Virtual Walker

Yoram Baram, a computer science professor and incumbent of the Roy Matas / Winnipeg Chair in Biomedical Engineering at the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology has collaborated with several neurologists specializing in treating Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis and other movement disorders, in developing and testing a new, non-invasive training device designed to proactively minimize freezing and balance problems during walking. The noticeable physical and mental improvement of patients participating in clinical studies led Baram to bring the GaitAid device to market as a FDA registered medical device and is offering the device for a trial period on his company's website (www.medigait.com).

A Professor of Neurology and Director of the Movement Disorder Clinic of The Rambam Medical Center, Yehudit Aharon, M.D., specializes in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. "The development of this device has been invaluable to my patients. They have better balance, reduction of freezing and improved confidence," states Dr. Aharon.

Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis patients participating in Baram's GaitAid training notice improvement in walking, and maintaining balance. According to a GaitAid device user, "This device gives me the feeling that I am taking control of my illness. I got my confidence back and can actually enjoy going out for a walk without the fear of falling down. But most importantly, my mental state of being is much more positive and I'm more independent."

Professor of Neurology and Director of the Center for Multiple Sclerosis and Brain of the Carmel Medical Center, Ariel Miller, M.D., specializes in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis. "The results clearly indicate that the device helps patients with MS control their gait. The degree of improvement is proportional to the degree of impairment. The results support the potential role of the device as a rehabilitation modality in MS, and substantiate their specific implementation in efforts to alleviate, improve, and restore mobility in patients with gait disturbances due to neurological disorders in general", states Dr. Miller.

Prof. Baram states, "My biggest joy is when a person using my GaitAid device calls me to say 'Thank you, Yoram; Using the GaitAid has changed my life."

The user-friendly device includes special glasses and earphones which provide sensory feedback of visual images and sounds in response to the patient's movements. Training involves walking with the device for up to twenty minutes. These training sessions evoke a neuroplastic response in the patient's brain, creating new healthy neural circuits which by-pass the disease-damaged areas.

Parkinson's Disease remains a mystery of medical science. For reason's unknown, certain brain cells stop producing a substance called Dopamine, which affects an individual's movement, strength and balance. There is currently no cure, though stem cell research offers future promise.

Emerging scientific evidence confirms that movement lessens neurological deterioration that contributes to Parkinson's and Multiple Sclerosis progression.

The idea for the GaitAid project was sparked 12 years ago while Professor Baram was designing a mechanism for NASA to navigate low-flying helicopters around obstacles. The concept of the design, which Baram later applied to the medical device, is that the optical images of objects help the observer navigate, stabilize and pace movement in space.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the GaitAid Virtual Walker will be used to support the research, development and treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The device is available for a trial period of 30 days:

online www.medigait.com
email: support (at) medigait (dot) com
or by phone 888-777-9906.

Pedaling to beat Parkinsons

2009-01-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Research Summary

BACKGROUND: According to neuroscientist Jay Alberts, Ph.D., of the Cleveland Clinic, past animal studies have shown great benefits for exercise in terms of improving Parkinson's disease function. But these positive results haven't been replicated in human studies. Dr. Alberts says, "A lot of human studies haven't shown significant improvements in motor function using the various human interventions, such as weight training or other types of exercise training." But the animal studies used a paradigm called "forced exercise" -- where the animal is forced to exercise at a rate that's faster than its voluntary rate. After taking a group bike ride across Iowa in 2003, Dr. Alberts realized the concept of forced exercise may be the key to bridging the gap between the positive animal studies and the inconclusive human ones.

FORCED EXERCISE: During the Iowa bike ride, Dr. Alberts rode on a tandem bike with a person who had Parkinson's. The patient was forced to pedal much faster than she would have normally -- between 80 and 90 RPMs as opposed to between 50 and 60. Dr. Alberts explains, "In many ways, this tandem was like a type of forced exercise paradigm that was being used in the tandem studies." Then in 2006, Dr. Alberts rode again with another Parkinson's patient. This patient depended on a surgically implanted device called deep brain stimulation to control his symptoms. If the device is turned off, his symptoms return immediately. Dr. Alberts and the patient went on a 50-mile tandem bike ride with the stimulator turned off, and to their delight, the patient had no symptoms. These observations led to Dr. Alberts testing the theory out clinically in the lab.

UNDER STUDY: In his study at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Alberts has patients come in over a period of eight weeks, three days a week for a one-hour tandem bike ride session. Results show after the eight weeks, patients have on average a 30-percent improvement in their symptoms. Two weeks after the study is over, patients still have about a 20-percent improvement. Dr. Alberts says with medication patients typically have slightly less improvement. And with deep brain stimulation, patients have between about 30 and 40 percent improvement, which is about the same. But as he points out, "If you stop taking medication, the disease symptoms come back within a few hours, and these often have side effects. And with deep brain stimulation, you turn the stimulator off and the symptoms come back almost immediately." He's then excited by the fact that the symptomatic improvement from tandem exercise is sustained for weeks. He does add that he doesn't see tandem exercise as something that would replace deep brain stimulation but instead could be used as an adjunct.

HOW IT WORKS: Patients are working the lower half of their body -- yet symptoms in their upper half improve. Dr. Alberts says, "That suggests that we're changing the way the brain is actually functioning." He's now trying to figure out what underlying mechanism is responsible for the improvement. He and his colleagues are looking at patients' fMRI brain scans to look for differences before and after the therapy. They suspect that because Parkinson's patients have a decreased neural drive, they may not be able to drive their system sufficiently, and forced exercise augments their central nervous system, leading to biochemical changes and actually helping the disease itself rather than just the symptoms.

ADVANTAGES: As Dr. Alberts explains, forced exercise is "a very simple intervention that doesn't require a lot of fancy equipment, and it doesn't require medications... We all know that exercise is good for you. And if we can improve brain function, to me that's pretty exciting.

Beating Parkinson's

2009-01-13T20:20:00.000-08:00

YMCA class helps slow progress of the degenerative brain disease

By KRISTINE WALDEN - GM Today Staff	January 9, 2009

WEST BEND -
Bill Gehl wasn�t about to let a diagnosis of Parkinson�s disease stop from living life on his terms.

Before the slow onset of the disease began eight years ago, Gehl was an active outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and woodworking.

After observing an exercise class developed by Dr. Teresa M. Steffen at a Milwaukee-area YMCA, the 63-year-old Kewaskum resident asked if one could be offered locally.

"I thought it was a good idea to keep yourself going so you don�t get so stiff, so I suggested she should come up to West Bend," he said.

Using the researched techniques by Steffen, Anne Langenfeld Smith, a physical therapist with Aurora Health Care, physical therapist Beth Dieringer, YMCA personal trainer LuAnne Salmon and Tiffany Larson, an occupational therapist, began the class at YMCA�s Rivershores location in July.

"He�s really the one that helped us identify this as a possibility," said Langenfeld Smith.

For the first half of the hourlong class, the 12 participants work out on treadmills. The second half is spent stretching, with a focus on trunk mobility.

"We are trying to maintain or improve their quality of life and their strength and flexibility," Langenfeld Smith said. "With normal aging, you have muscle atrophy and stiff joints. With Parkinson�s, you have the added stiffness, weakness and lack of mobility. Research is showing that exercise can really slow the effects of Parkinson�s."

The treadmill work - walking both forward and backward - helps participants with muscle memory, said Salmon.

"With Parkinson�s, they tend to shuffle and stoop forward with their posture and freeze," Salmon said. "The treadmill�s continual motion, and the backwards motion, helps with the calves and keeping upright posture. With upright posture, they�re also less likely to fall as much."

The floor exercises help with stretching and balance. Facial muscles are also worked and vocal exercises help with speech.

The class, however, doesn�t just focus on the physical.

"Another great thing about the class is the social aspect," Salmon said. "They�re able to network with other people who are going through what they�re going through. It really helps with their confidence."

So far, Gehl said, the class has done wonders.

"It�s good to get out and go to class," said Gehl. "The benefits of exercise allows me to turn my head further, allowing me to check my blind spot more easily while driving. I also feel more confident with my walking and by balance has improved. It keeps me loose. The more I exercise, the more the symptoms go away. You can walk better, and you�re standing straight up and down now, not hunched over. It allows me to continue with my hobbies. I do woodworking - pens and bowls, a little bit of everything."

The other four class members have also had dramatic results.

"It�s night and day. We did a three-month follow-up and saw 300-percent improvement in some of the areas, with the most improved being gait (or walking) speed," Langenfeld Smith said.

Knowing that he had a part in making that happen means the world to Gehl.

"I�m glad it�s helping others, and I�m sure once the word gets around, there will be more," Gehl said.

At a glance

What: Parkinson�s disease special exercise classes.

For: For those individuals in all stages of the disease.

Where: Kettle Moraine YMCA, Rivershores location on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $35 per month for YMCA members, $50 per month for community participants. The class is offered year-round and new participants can join at any time. Scholarships are available based on financial need.

For more information, contact Beth Dieringer or Anne Langenfeld Smith, Aurora Health Care, at 306-6100.

What is Parkinson�s disease?

Parkinson�s disease is the second-most common disorder associated with degeneration of the brain. The disease is characterized by a a loss of brain chemical that assists in performing movements in a normal manner. There is no cure, only medications to help slow the progression of the disease. There is no x-ray or blood test to identify Parkinson�s disease. The disease is diagnosed by evaluation of symptoms by a physician.

The four main symptoms are:

- Tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw and face.

- Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk.

- Slowness of movement.

- Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination.

This story appeared in The Daily News on January 9, 2009.

Boxing helps knock out Parkinson's

2009-01-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

By JEAN ENERSEN / KING-TV

KING-TV's Jean Enersen reports

About one million people in the United States are living with Parkinson's disease.

It ended Muhammad Ali's career.

But now boxing may help Parkinson's patients fight the disease.

It's not your typical boxing class.

"Once you see that glove go on, you're just free, and you just pound away," said Bonnie Cohen.

All the athletes in the class have Parkinson's. Certified personal trainier Craig Marks developed the program to help his late father fight the disease.

"He was able to get up and walk around again. He was able to take care of himself," he said.

Three days per week they come to the gym.

"The goal is constant motion. We don't want to give anybody time to rest if we don't have to," he said.

Bonnie was diagnosed at age 30.

"It's given me more balance and a lot more strength," she said.

Abe Taback says he feels like a new man.

"I notice my balance is a little bit better. I'm walking better," he said.

Studies show exercise can protect the brain from ongoing damage caused by Parkinson's. It also improved balance and coordination.

Elaine Simon got back her energy.

"You know how Rocky climbed those steps and went to the top? That's the way I feel," she said.

The class focuses on boxing, but includes other exercises.

"Our goal is to see if we can try to keep it under control or see if we can slow the progression by doing these different exercises," said Marks.

Another benefit is knowing that they're not alone.

Research shows exercise also helps prevent Parkinson's disease. A Harvard study found that men who exercise at least twice a week when they're younger reduce their risk of Parkinson's by 60 percent.

Currently there's no cure for Parkinson's.

Tennis balls for tremor treatment

2009-01-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of patients in the East Midlands are using a supply of free tennis balls to help control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The tennis balls were donated to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust by the Nottingham Tennis Centre.

Parkinson's disease patients experience a stiffening of the fingers which makes simple everyday tasks difficult.

The tennis balls are used in a series of exercises to help reduce stiffness in the hands and aid tremor reduction.

Stiff palms

Physiotherapist Sandy Gill asked for the donation after she noticed that tennis balls that were no longer bouncy enough were being given away.

Patient Rita Lambert said: "It helps with the stretching of the fingers and with the muscles in your arms. I need to stretch them because they get stiff and I seize up."

Patients are encouraged to roll the tennis balls in the palm of their hands to keep fingers supple and to roll them along the table to stretch out their fingers and help increase manual dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination.

Ms Gill said: "These simple exercises can play a beneficial role in helping Parkinson's patients retain their hand mobility, making everyday tasks easier to perform.

"Having a guaranteed, regular supply of free tennis balls has enabled us to give our patients balls to take home with them so that they can practice their exercises at home.

"It is terrific that something so small can have such huge benefits for our patients."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/england/derbyshire/7809622.stm

Published: 2009/01/03 14:45:39 GMT

Parkinson's Disease: Exercise and Parkinson's Disease

2008-12-27T19:59:00.000-08:00

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

WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic

Gaming your way to better health

2008-12-12T19:05:00.000-08:00

Interactive games seek to get people moving, help them manage disease

By Kristen Gerencher, MarketWatch
Last update: 7:12 p.m. EST Dec. 11, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Video games aren't just for kids and couch potatoes anymore. They're increasingly being used to motivate people of all ages to move their bodies and manage their chronic health conditions more effectively.

Health electronic games represent 16% of the overall video gaming industry, amounting to a $6.6 billion worldwide market this year, according to a report from IConecto, the sponsor of Gaming4Health.com, a company that designs and distributes custom e-games for insurers and employers.

The bulk of that figure comes from the two largest subcategories known as exergames and brain fitness. Exergames such as the popular Nintendo Wii Sports and Wii Fit systems pair digital interactive technology with the player's physical motion, while brain fitness focuses on cognitive training aimed at improving or maintaining mental function.

"Exergaming is just one part of the solution to reduce health-care costs and improve health status," said Doug Goldstein, chief executive of Gaming4Health in Alexandria, Va. "We have to get people moving. If this is an engaging way to get people moving then let's do it."

Smaller health e-game categories cited in the report include healthy eating, which involves weight management and obesity-related interventions, and condition management, targeted to people with chronic ailments such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or pain.

Some health insurers are getting in on the action. Humana developed a competitive game for school children called the Horsepower Challenge. Cigna distributes a game called ReMission to teens and young adults with cancer. In a study published in the journal Pediatrics last August, ReMission, which features a sassy nanobot named Roxxi who blasts cancer cells in a fictional cancer patient, was shown to increase players' adherence to oral chemotherapy and antibiotics regimens, which can prevent cancer recurrence.

Video: Gaming For Health

Interactive video games are bringing fresh therapy and fitness approaches to players of all ages. MarketWatch's Kristen Gerencher looks at a program designed to help young cancer patients and one aimed at people with Parkinson's disease. (Dec. 11)
Health-oriented games are targeted to older adults as well. Sixty-one percent of more than 350 senior-living and older-adult centers surveyed intend to purchase some form of computer-generated or Wii-type game in the next two years, according to a November poll from the International Council on Active Aging, a trade group representing senior-living communities and centers. Another 38% were considering buying brain fitness software.

"Over the last 10 years there's been virtually zero increase in the level of activity in individuals 55-plus," said Colin Milner, the council's chief executive. "People are beginning to come in with these products transferring movements online and trying to make it fun."

Debunking stereotypes

The market's shifted in the last decade as game publishers, health plans, academics and policymakers became more enthusiastic about the potential for game applications in health care, said Debra Lieberman, director of the Health Games Research national program at the University of California-Santa Barbara, which is overseeing the disbursement of $4 million in health-gaming research grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

"People understand that good games can be made that don't have violence or hateful portrayals of racial and ethnic groups and aren't even sedentary anymore because you're up and off the couch," she said.

"It's not seen as such a radical thing to do in your health-care organization," Lieberman said. "It's now really feasible to think about health games that could be a moneymaker."

Still, much more needs to be learned, she added. "We're still trying to discover what quality is and what games can and cannot do."

Such research is likely to speed the convergence of traditional gaming and health care, said Steve Cole, vice president for research at HopeLab, a nonprofit in Redwood City, Calif., that developed ReMission as part of its charter to support the health of teenagers with chronic disease.

"The market that we want to catalyze has the health-care industry as the consumer of these games and the commercial games industry as the producer of these games," he said. "But the commercial games industry has been quite slow to take it up because they don't really feel they know how to change health behavior. That's not what they've done in the past."

Not everyone believes gaming will improve health measures on a broad scale. It may make a mark in senior fitness or in the fight against childhood obesity, but health e-games likely will remain a niche market, said Carl Doty, a principal analyst at Forrester Research in Boston.

"I don't see it as a pragmatic way to get people engaged in fitness. I think there are some isolated examples where it can have beneficial outcomes," Doty said. "The root problem goes much deeper than getting people to have a little bit of fun. It's more about culture, diet and it's tough to get that level of behavior change with gaming."

Exergaming

Humana, the Louisville, Ky.-based health insurer, is pleased with the performance of its online game to get school children moving, said Joanna Darst, product manager for the Humana Innovation Center.

The Horsepower Challenge gives each student a pedometer, which tracks their movement and sends wireless updates to the HumanaGames.com Web site. Students also receive animated horses that represent them online, where they can see their progress. Teams of school systems compete against each other, and kids who accumulate activity earn rewards they can use to accessorize their horses.

"Our mission is basically to help people play their way to better health," Darst said. "We want to make it fun for people to get healthy."

Though Humana gives most of its games away for free, its motives aren't entirely altruistic. The company is factoring in relatively high turnover in its business.
"If they aren't a Humana member today they might be in a couple years, and if they come to us healthier because of the games then we're better for that," Darst said.
Humana also has sold a few units of a senior-focused game called Dancetown, a game similar to Dance Dance Revolution but with a safety rail that surrounds the dance pad, she said. "You can set different levels of difficulty on the pads so a grandmother can play a grandchild but it's challenging for both."

At Inland Empire Health Plan, which serves low-income beneficiaries of the state's public programs in two large counties in Southern California, doctor-referred overweight kids can work out with interactive games as part of a weight-loss program that takes place at a site called XRtainment Zone in Loma Linda, said Gary Melton, director of health administration in San Bernardino.

"It's pretty exciting, especially when you see the facility," he said. "It appeals to those children that don't typically get involved in soccer and sports and all of that stuff."

The downside is that many families live and work too far away from the site to make it a viable fitness alternative, Melton said.

But the 100 kids who do participate can exercise with a variety of games, one of which allows the rider of a stationery bicycle to do so in front of a screen where a character rides through the streets of Tokyo on a motorcycle, said Dr. Sue Gengler, Inland's health education manager.

Managing cancer, Parkinson's disease

Games such as ReMission can help young-adult cancer patients, who are prone to skipping chemotherapy doses, stay on track, Cole said. "It's not because they don't understand they should take their chemo. After months and months and months of treatment, they start to feel confident of being cured and a desire to get back to the life they led."

Getting the benefits doesn't require spending lots of time parked in front of the computer, he said. "We found that kids who played the game as little as one to two hours showed the same positive effect as kids who played for more than 20 hours."
At the University of California-San Francisco, researchers are adapting the Wii gaming platform to help patients with Parkinson's disease improve their gait and balance.
With a grant from the National Institutes of Health, researchers will test whether the custom program works to help Parkinson's patients overcome their functional impairments better than traditional methods like physical therapy, said Glenna Dowling, chair of the physiological nursing department at UCSF.

"People with Parkinson's tend to take these small stutter steps, which are very unstable," she said. "This gets them to pick up their feet and have a more normal gait. [It] has the potential to reduce falls."

Patients often don't get much physical therapy, and having a home-based game protocol would make treatment more accessible, Dowling said. The first phase of research among 20 patients, half of whom worked with the game in a lab setting, proved promising.
"We saw positive benefits by three months and even more positive benefits by six months," Dowling said.

Kristen Gerencher is a reporter for MarketWatch in San Francisco.

Pacquiao's Trainer Fighting Different Battle

2008-12-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

Updated: Dec 4, 2008 04:55 PM

Millions of fight fans will cheer for Manny Pacquiao or Oscar De La Hoya this weekend in the year's biggest fight. But Michael Berk has the story of a boxer turned trainer whose fight began long ago.

"Freddie Roach was a great fighter. He thought it was a great insult to duck a punch," said Bob Arum, President of Top Rank Inc.

That was a badge of courage Roach wore during his career inside the ring. Now on the apron as Manny Pacquiao's trainer, he wears the scars. One big scar really -- Parkinson's disease.

"I'm on a new medication and it's working pretty well. I drool a little bit sometimes, but that's a characteristic of it," he said.

Research supports that side effect, but Roach believes there's another. One which the medical establishment would never support, "One time I had Muhammad Ali -- he has very violent tremors -- he asked me if he could work out in my gym about five years ago. Once he started hitting the bag, his tremors went away. I'm very similar to him."

Parkinson's can and will rob Freddie of his coordination, balance and ability to stand tall, that's what science tells us. The disease, however, has no chance against the sweet science.

"It's like home. I'm comfortable -- it's my comfort zone. I'm sore sometimes, that's natural, but it's what I live for," he said.

Ultimately, the punches may be what he dies for, "You can't prove it, but it's related, of course. I chose the sport, nobody forced me to do it."

And Parkinson's disease won't force him away.

Just the right moves

2008-12-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Dance aids those with Parkinson's

Johnny Diaz

WALTHAM - "Wiggle your fingers at the ceiling," Naomi Goodman told her dance students as she stretched her arms skyward. "Shake your body loose like a wet noodle. Take off that shirt, and stretch that spine. Extend your arms like beautiful wings."
The dancers followed her every move, though it didn't come fast or easy at first. These students live with tremors in their arms, weakness in their legs, and lack of muscle control in their everyday lives. But for two hours every Monday they groove to the blues, shimmy to jazz, and glide to the tango at the Jewish Family & Children's Service center. Here, they temporarily forget they are Parkinson's patients as they tap into their inner dancers.

They are pioneers in an unconventional but promising approach to helping people with Parkinson's, a progressive degenerative disease. Goodman, a dance and yoga instructor, incorporates movements from those disciplines to help people with Parkinson's improve their coordination and flexibility as their disease gradually robs them of both.
The students say the class, one of two in the Bay State, eases their symptoms and gives them a sense of control over a disease that often renders them powerless over their own bodies. The combination of music and dance instills a certain grace to their movements and makes them feel good. It is a way to take on this relentless disease.
The class serves another function: It provides a social outlet for Parkinson's patients, who often isolate themselves because they feel self-conscious about their disease.

"Parkinson's stiffens you up and makes you fearful of doing very much," said Rosamond Rosenmeier, 80, who has been dancing in these classes since they began last summer. In 1998, when she complained to her doctor of a persistent trembling in her left hand, he diagnosed her with Parkinson's. The disease has weakened her balance; she finds walking difficult. Her speech often fades in mid-sentence, another symptom. The class has changed her attitude, though. "I feel stretched and happy," she said. "It's fun. It's a good group of people to be with. I don't usually gather with a group of Parkinsonians."

There's no cure for Parkinson's, which afflicts more than 1.5 million Americans. Patients take a daily mix of pills to slow the progress of the disease, which occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine die off. Dopamine is a naturally produced chemical that transmits signals that control muscle movement. When those cells are destroyed, people begin to lose their balance, coordination, and muscle control.
Recent studies have found that music and dance can be effective as a supplement to the medical treatments. One study, released this year by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, reported that patients who took tango classes improved their balance and mobility substantially. Similar dance classes for Parkinson's patients have started in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Patients report, and neurologists believe, that the musical rhythms help trigger coordinate movement, thus alleviating, temporarily, some of the symptoms. The music also helps people remember how to move their bodies.

"Music facilitates movement in Parkinson's disease," said Linda Tickle-Degnen, chairwoman of the department of occupational therapy at Tufts University. Two years ago she and a colleague conducted a research trial at Boston University to examine how social interaction and music affected people with Parkinson's. Among the findings: Many participants improved mobility and coordination after they had more social interaction and exercise in their lives.

"Dance gives them that practice and exercise. Dancing would not just facilitate how well you are moving your legs but your arms and your face too," she said. "Then there's this added piece that it's fun. When people are having fun, they move better."
That's one of the reasons Ed Rudman helped bring the dance class to Waltham. Rudman was diagnosed with Parkinson's 12 years ago. For the first few years, he told only his immediate family and co-workers that he had the disease.

"I didn't want people to look at me differently," said Rudman, former chairman of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Although his symptoms have slowly surfaced, he remains active. He began to notice that he felt better after exercising and dancing at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in the Berkshires.

"I thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to start a dance group for Parkinson's but to slow it down?' " said Rudman, 71. He broached the idea with Megha Nancy Buttenheim, his yoga and dance instructor, who had been training Goodman as an instructor. They worked with dance instructors at the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn, who have been using ballet, the waltz, and other dance styles to help people with Parkinson's. The collaboration, along with input from neurologists at Boston University, resulted in the launch of a dance class last June at the Jewish Family & Children's Service. Another series of classes begins Dec. 15.

"My intent is to help people laugh and smile. Parkinson's is a disease that can be cruel," said Rudman, who takes 20 pills a day plus protein shakes to build muscle. To further research, he initially invested $150,000 of his own money and helped raised $5 million three years ago to launch Link Medicine Corp., a Cambridge start-up drug developer that is searching for a cure for Parkinson's.

"There is no cure," Rudman said. "There is plenty of medications available to mask the symptoms. You get stiff and you can't move." As he danced in class recently, he added, "Here you laugh, you kick, you stomp, and you dance."

At that recent class, 20 students, who included spouses, adult children, and caregivers, sat in a circle of chairs as Goodman led them into stretching drills. The class is open to anyone with Parkinson's.

Students chanted "Pa, pa, pa . . . Ta, ta, ta . . . Ca, ca, ca," to flex their facial muscles.

After they warmed up, the class stepped forward, scooted and shuffled at their own pace to the various dance styles. They did the twist, shimmied, and performed Argentina's national dance, the tango.

"Twist to the left, twist to the right," Goodman, urged them. Upbeat songs from Dion and the Pussycat Dolls got everyone's groove on. "If you want to turn up the spice a little, put some hip into it." Everyone seemed to float to the music.
At the end of the class, the dancers regrouped in a circle and revealed their frustrations with the disease. Among them: They can't take off their shirts unassisted, iron clothes, or open bottles.

"My legs and arms now follow a choreography I did not choose," Rosenmeier wrote in a poem she titled "Harboring P," which was discussed in the session.
As the students swapped stories, they also celebrated the joys of the class and the hope it provides on and off the dance floor.

"It is altogether a remarkable experience to be part of," Rosenmeier said. "It moves you to do better."

Exercise and Parkinson's Disease

2008-11-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

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

Dance Lifts Bodies and Souls for Parkinson's Patients

2008-11-19T10:24:00.000-08:00

By Sacha Pfeiffer

WALTHAM, Mass. - October 20, 2008 - Many of us know the telltale signs of Parkinson's disease -- the tremors, the stiff limbs, the unsteady walk. The disease has no cure, and medications for it tend to stop working over time.

But recent studies show that dancing can help reduce Parkinson's symptoms. So a local nonprofit has started a dance class for people with the disease.

Vicki Weiss was 64 years old when she noticed something odd about her body. Her hand seemed to have changed position slightly, keeping her from doing simple tasks.

"I couldn't unlock the doors or flip pancakes, and then I stopped being able to swing this hand when I walk -- little subtle things."

Those little subtleties led to a grim diagnosis: Parkinson's disease. Weiss immediately got treatment. She takes a drug that controls her symptoms. She walks three miles a day. And a few months ago, she tried something else.

Weiss and about 15 other people with Parkinson's are sitting in a circle as instructor Naomi Goodman tells them to lift their shoulders up and down. It's easy for some of them. But others move stiffly. One woman is locked in a stooped position. Another slumps in a wheelchair.

Hyperkyphosis is basically a humped spine. It's one of the symptoms of Parkinson's. So are rigid limbs, slow movement, and poor balance. Goodman, the instructor, tells the group to reach for the ceiling, lean toward the floor, and twist from side to side. She explains that these moves will loosen their bodies. Weiss says that's exactly what they've done for her.

"I did find that my body was, my movements were looser. I had better range of motion, and I had a great feeling of well-being."

That sense of well-being can lift the depression that sometimes comes with Parkinson's. But dancing does more than that. Studies show that it can help people with Parkinson's improve their balance and mobility. And the music can help them remember how to move their bodies.

Physical therapist Terry Ellis helped incorporate physical therapy exercises into dance moves for the class. She's a professor at Boston University who specializes in treating Parkinson's and other neurological problems.

"When they hear that beat, all of a sudden they sort of lock into that beat and they can move more quickly, and they can move more gracefully, and they can move quicker, and they can move with less effort."

Parkinson's is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which means it delivers signals between cells. One of those signals controls body motion. So when dopamine-producing cells die, a person can lose the ability to move. Some people with Parkinson's can't walk, talk, chew, or even swallow.

But Ellis, the BU professor, says research suggests that exercise, and dance in particular, may protect the cells that produce dopamine. And that may prevent or slow development of the disease.

"This needs further study, obviously, to see what happens with this, but the early studies are promising."

Those promising studies are behind this dance class and others around the country. The one at Jewish Family & Children's Services in Waltham is open to anyone with Parkinson's, Jewish or not. The dancing is gentle, and the class is a lot like a yoga session. In fact, instructor Naomi Goodman describes it as a blend of yoga, theatre games, ballet, and physical and occupational therapy. It's set to music that ranges from the Beatles to the Bangles, and from the Pussycat Dolls to Pachelbel.

Nancy Mazonson, who coordinates the Parkinson's support program at Jewish Family & Children's Services, helped design this class. She says the dancing has made a big difference to some people who've been handicapped by the disease for years.

"We had someone who said he danced at a wedding for the first time in six years. That, to us, is a huge change in somebody's life."

Mazonson also says dancing is liberating for many Parkinson's patients.

"There's something about seeing people with this very devastating disease doggedly trying to move and wanting so much for the joy of dance to sort of imbue them with an ability to break out of this shell that the disease encases them in."

"I used to dance in the corner and I had a buttoned-down personality, and now I let it all hang out."

That's Ed Rudman, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 11 years ago. He decided he would do everything possible to slow the progression of the disease. This is the second time he's taken this class, which he helps support financially.

"When I hear music I kind of just want to move my arms and legs. It makes me feel just alive. And when you add the music to the dancing, put them together, and I could go all day."

Q&A with Janet Hamburg: She’s been making all the right moves

2008-11-19T10:22:00.002-08:00

By JAMES A. FUSSELL

Janet Hamburg has a lot of titles.

She’s a professor of dance at the University of Kansas, a registered somatic movement therapist, a certified Laban movement analyst, director of senior wellness and exercise for the Center for Movement Education and Research in Los Angeles and a senior research associate for the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. (Whew!)

But there’s nothing she’s more proud of than “Motivating Moves for People With Parkinson’s,” an exercise program she created to help patients deal with movement challenges. Recently she presented her research in Chicago at an international gathering of doctors, researchers and others who deal with Parkinson’s and other movement disorders. We asked her to tell us about her work.

Q. How long have you been teaching dance at KU?

A. 29 years.

What else do you do?

I’ve worked with professional and collegiate athletes and (former) NBA basketball player Albert King. I created a warm-up program for the KU men’s basketball team. I’ve also worked with musicians at the Juilliard School in New York City.

Tell us about “Motivating Moves.”

Parkinson’s disrupts the rhythm, timing and phrasing of natural coordinated movements. I designed exercises that incorporate a variety of movement and vocal dynamics to enliven people as they strengthen and stretch their muscles.

Can you describe it?

It’s a seated exercise program that takes about a half-hour. There are 24 short exercises (including) an exercise called the Big Ha! where people are shrugging their shoulders to their ears, then dropping their shoulders with a loud “Ha!” sound. Another exercise is Swivel and Slouch, which begins by swiveling the feet and legs from one side to another, and ends with allowing the torso to collapse into a twisting slouch. This prepares the body for twisting and spiraling movements that are helpful in getting out of bed. I end with silly faces and moods. Some people with Parkinson’s have difficulty speaking, swallowing and moving their faces expressively. Silly faces and moods includes a variety of exercises for the facial muscles, mouth and throat. It even includes laughing, so everybody is laughing at one point.

Do you use music?

Yes. The music supports the rhythm and dynamics of the movements while cueing and encouraging the participant to move. It was composed specifically for each exercise by the late Robert Abramson, an internationally recognized master teacher of Dalcroze Eurhythmics on the faculty of the Juilliard School.

Dalcroze … what?

It’s a method of teaching musical concepts through movement.

Of course. We were just testing you. So what do you hope your program will do for patients?

Allow people who have been robbed of their unique sense of rhythm and timing and movement dynamics in their everyday actions to feel pleasure in moving again. One thing people have told me over and over is the program is enjoyable. It’s not just like another prescription they have to take.

Do they also say it works?

One woman wrote to me and said: “Before doing Motivating Moves I was unable to dress myself. I can do everything for myself now.”

Must make them feel great.

It does. I recently completed a research study on the effects of (the program). There were statistically significant improvements in how quickly the participants could get up from a chair and walk a short distance, how much they could twist their torsos, and there were improvements in their activities of daily living.

Other success stories?

There was a woman in Kansas City who told her children that she would not be traveling anymore because of her Parkinson’s, so if they wanted to see her they’d have to visit her. After she (used the program) she made airline reservations to visit her children for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was just thrilled.

Why did you develop this?

My mother, Helen Hamburg, developed Parkinson’s. As I watched her movement challenges, I developed exercises to help her move more easily. Unfortunately she died before she could see the DVD. But it was done in her honor.

Workout helps ease the pain of Parkinson's

2008-11-19T10:22:00.001-08:00

by Joe Fitzgibbon, Special to The Oregonian
Thursday October 09, 2008, 3:00 AM

SHERWOOD -- Muhammad Ali, Michael J. Fox and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno

Brent Wojahn/The OregonianKelly Johnson (left) helps Vera Darling of Beaverton with individualized exercise on a stationary bike during the Sherwood YMCA's Parkinson's Exercise class.

are the high-profile names. Kathy Grunwald, Greg South and Ron Beamer are less well known.

All are seeking relief from the muscle- and nerve-crippling effects of Parkinson's disease, with no known cure.

Nancy Nelson and Kelly Johnson of the Sherwood Regional Family YMCA want to help.

Two years ago, Nelson, director of Health and Wellness, and Johnson, a personal trainer, began offering a gentle workout called Parkinson's Exercise.

Four people showed up at the first session. Within weeks, a dozen men and women with the neurological disease joined them. Today, the number has nearly doubled.

Those with Parkinson's say they come because their joints ache or their hands shake uncontrollably. They've lost the rhythm in their step or the fluency of their speech. They need to talk with others who understand their anxieties.

"You spend time exercising with the people here, and you're bound to leave with a smile," said Grunwald, 63, of Tualatin. "If you're having a bad day -- and we have lots of them -- someone here will pick you up."

The group meets three times a week at the Sherwood YMCA.

After about 15 minutes of socializing, blood pressure checks and warmup exercises, participants pick up the pace on stationary bicycles and treadmills or the indoor track.

"I'm not much of a self-starter and really enjoy the enthusiasm of exercising with others," laughed Beamer, 61, of Beaverton, a former avid bicyclist. "We all know the meaning of 'use it or lose it.' "

Nelson and Johnson circulate, assisting class members with the equipment -- improving techniques and bad posture here, offering encouragement there.

"As the disease progresses, some of them find that it becomes harder and harder to maintain their balance or struggle to keep their heads up and bodies straight," Nelson said. "With even a little encouragement, they'll push themselves as much as they can. It is really quite inspiring."

For the last 30 minutes of each session, the men and women gather in a small, mirrored dance studio for a series of low-impact voice- and facial-expression exercises and yoga-like stretching.

A year ago, South, 64, of Portland refused to admit to himself that he needed help. "I had some minor tremors and was in denial," he said.

After checking out the Y class, "I couldn't believe how hard everyone was working and how courageous they were," he said. "I thought I'd give it a try, and I've been coming ever since."

An estimated 25,000 men and women in Oregon -- most in their 50s, 60s and 70s -- have been diagnosed with Parkinson's. The slowly debilitating disease often causes side effects such as tremors, muscle stiffness, speech impediments and balance problems. These, in turn, can lead to depression and anxiety.

Drugs help control the symptoms but research shows a strong relationship between gentle exercise and improved flexibility, endurance and mood.

"It was trial and error for us at first, but then we started attending seminars and talking with experts in the field," Johnson said. "One of the best parts of each class is watching the way everyone works together."

Nelson, who calls the 90-minute workouts the highlight of her day, said she loves the positive energy that comes from the group. Still, she'd like to do more.

"We know there are people out there who would benefit from the classes but aren't sure it's for them," Nelson said. "So we're saying to come in and give it a try. If a few more join us, we'd like to offer a second or third tier to address a wider range of abilities."

-- Joe Fitzgibbon;
If you go

What: Parkinson's Exercise

When: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Where: Sherwood Regional Family YMCA, 23000 S.W.Pacific Hwy.

How it works: After medical release from health care provider, ambulatory men and women with Parkinson's disease work on individual and group exercises to improve alance, flexibility and muscular control. Participants enjoy social events and support groups to manage mood swings.

Parkinson’s Disease & TAI CHI THERAPY

2008-11-19T10:21:00.001-08:00

Rush University Medical Center And Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Collaborate To Provide Parkinson's Patients With New Outlet Through Dance

2008-11-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

In a first-time collaboration, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) is working with Rush University Medical Center to launch a pilot program in contemporary dance specifically designed for people with Parkinson's disease and related movement disorders. The class, which features live piano accompaniment, takes place Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. at the Hubbard Street Dance Center, 1147 W. Jackson Blvd., in Chicago. The next 12-week fall session begins Saturday, September 6.

The class is as an opportunity for those with Parkinson's disease, as well as their loved ones and caregivers, to derive both physical and emotional benefits from participating in a contemporary dance class, according to physicians at Rush.

"Dance may be an appropriate and effective strategy for improving functional mobility deficits in people who are living with brain disorders such as Parkinson's, stroke and traumatic brain injuries," said Dr. James Young, chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Rush.

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disorder that causes tremors, rigidity, a slowing of movement and difficulty with balance. The movement problems of Parkinson's are caused by loss of the brain chemical messenger dopamine as a result of dysfunction or death of brain cells that manufacture this essential chemical.

"Medications are important in the treatment of Parkinson's, but many symptoms don't respond as well to medications as we would like," said Dr. Kathleen Shannon, neurologist at the Movement Disorders Center at Rush. "Music and other rhythmic stimuli help Parkinson's patients to move better, so dance may help patients regain balance and make more fluid movements. The thought is that by moving to music the brain will reinforce movement pathways, or simply create new ones. Dance also may help the fight against depression seen in Parkinson's disease."

Leading the class is Sarah Cullen Fuller, who danced with HSDC for nearly seven years and is on the faculty of the Lou Conte Dance Studio at the Hubbard Street Dance Center. She trained in the Parkinson's program developed eight years ago by the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn to learn the fundamentals of the program and how to modify a traditional dance class to accommodate the circumstances of the participants.

"I'm very excited about this class," said Cullen Fuller. "Dance for me has always been therapeutic in many ways, although it's important to note that this is not a therapy session. This is a dance class that combines the artistry of dance with live music to encourage one's natural instincts for movement and the benefits that movement can produce physically and socially. It's an opportunity for participants and their loved ones to do something fun together."

Rush is working to secure enough funding to offer these classes on a regular basis and conduct research on the benefits of dance on individuals with Parkinson's.

Cognition in Older Women: The Importance of Daytime Movement

2008-11-19T10:19:00.000-08:00

Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, MPH *† , Terri Blackwell, MA ‡ , Katie L. Stone, PhD ‡ , Suzanne E. Goldman, PhD, APRN § , Teresa Hillier, MD, MS ∥# , and Kristine Yaffe, MD *†**†† , for the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

From the Departments of *Psychiatry, **Neurology, and ††Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; †San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, California; ‡San Francisco Coordinating Center, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, California; §Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee; ∥Department of Endocrinology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; and #Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, Oregon.

Address correspondence to Deborah E. Barnes, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, 4150 Clement Street, 151R, San Francisco, CA 94121.

Copyright Journal compilation 2008 The American Geriatrics Society/Blackwell Publishing

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether an objective measure of daytime movement is associated with better cognitive function in women in their 80s.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

SETTING: A study of health and aging.

PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand seven hundred thirty-six older women without evidence of dementia.

MEASUREMENTS: Daytime movement was assessed using actigraphy, which involved wearing a watch-like device that objectively quantified accelerometer motion over a mean of 3.0±0.8 days. Cognitive function was measured using the Trail-Making Test, Part B (Trails B) and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Cognitive impairment was defined as performing 1.5 standard deviations (SDs) worse than the mean on a given test.

RESULTS: Participants had a mean age of 83±4; 10% were African American. After adjustment for age, race, and education, women in the highest movement quartiles had better mean cognitive test scores (20±0.3 seconds faster on Trails B and 0.3±0.2 points higher on MMSE, both P<.001) than those in the lowest quartile and were less likely to be cognitively impaired (odds ratio (OR)=0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.41–0.92 for Trails B; OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.44–1.07 for MMSE). Associations were similar in different subgroups and were independent of self-reported walking, medical comorbidities, physical function, and other health-related behaviors.

CONCLUSION: Daytime movement as measured objectively using actigraphy was associated with better cognitive function and lower odds of cognitive impairment in women in their 80s. Additional studies are needed to clarify the direction of the association and to explore potential mechanisms.