Update on Exercise: Go For It!
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A recent Washington Post article highlights the benefits for Parkies who exercise frequently and at a challenging pace.
The secondary title says it all: “A mix of high-intensity aerobics and balance, strengthening and stretching exercises may delay the disease’s onset or, ideally, prevent it altogether.”
Wow! And here’s the opening, attention-grabbing anecdote:
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Today he stands upright and has ditched the back brace and walker.
“My doctors have run strength, balance and gait tests, and everything has improved,” he says. “They decided to not up my medicine. I’m convinced exercise is the reason.”
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The article goes on to discuss current research efforts linking strenous exercise to halting Parkinson’s progression, with a special focus on Rock Steady Boxing and riding a spin bike at a fast pace.
To wit:
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In a recent study, 50 Parkinson’s patients engaged in high-intensity cycling on stationary bicycles three times a week for eight weeks. The researchers measured their ability to react to a timed task before starting the exercise program, and then again after it ended.
Collectively, the participants showed faster reaction times compared with their earlier performances, indicating that “exercise enhances cognitive function,” Alberts says. Such improvement “could aid in the performance of activities of daily living,” he adds.
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What’s not to like about that?
Excuse me while I hop on my spin bike…
