Exercise is important for anyone who is trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but for people with Parkinson’s it is even more important, even critical in their fight against the disease.
It should be incorporated into their daily lifestyle as it’s a vital component to maintaining balance, mobility and daily living activities. Studies also show that it has a potential neuroprotective effect (Parkinson’s Foundation, 2019).
Personally, I have found that regular exercise has positively affected my symptoms and I can physically tell a difference if I go more than 2 days without exercising. You don’t have to take my word. Research confirms the positive effects of exercise on people with Parkinson’s and their symptoms. For instance, in 2009 the Parkinson’s Foundation started the Parkinson’s Outcome Project, a clinical study of Parkinson’s disease with over 12,000 participants in five different countries. This project studies everyone with Parkinson’s, from those newly diagnosed to people who have lived with it for 20 years or more, which in turn provides a more accurate picture of the disease and its impact on people with Parkinson’s. Two of the highlights from this research project confirm the importance of exercise for people with Parkinson’s and they are listed below.
Increasing physical activity to at least 2.5 hours a week can slow the decline in quality of life.
Interventions providing neuroprotective benefits, such as exercise, could change the course of the disease.
If you wish to obtain additional information on the positive effects of exercise for Parkinson’s patients, click the button below, which will route you to articles/publications/videos from research studies and to other individuals with Parkinson’s disease attesting to the positive effects of exercise on people with Parkinson’s.