Exercising

Use it or lose it!

The chances are that you are going to lose a lot of your physical and mental functions as time goes on. However, the longer you try to use all of your facilities as much as you can, the better the quality of your life will be.

POWER WALKING !!
Walking is one of the best exercises that PD folks can do.

POWER Walking ( P W ) is better still! Shorter steps, reduced lung capacity, and stiffening arms are some of the symptoms of PD. All of which can be helped and postponed for some time with P.W. Think of it as 'Marching'! This brings to mind a group of soldiers, marching to the music of a band. Head up, shoulders back,picking up their feet, arms swinging in an alternative way left arm & _self leg going forward together; and _self arm & left leg together. To many of us, this is no longer possible! Our steps are short and just barely rise high enough to clear the surface,( a fall looking for a place to happen ), our arms don't swing, our head and upper body lean forward as we look at the walkway in front of us as we walk, and we rarely walk fast enough to raise a sweat, let alone expand our chest and lungs.

Use Them Or Loose them!

However, we can start to reclaim our bodily posture and function by lifting our feet as we walk. Exaggerate! Pick them up higher, and thrust them forward even an inch farther, being careful not to loose your balance as you walk or climb stairs. Then bit by bit begin making a concentrated effort to raise your head a little, throw back your shoulders a little, swing your arms a little, and walk a little bit faster. Each day as you are able, increase where you can. It is a good idea to get a " Walkman " with some marching music, as well as a walking companion if you can. You are more apt to keep at it better with a companion!
It is a good idea to walk faster for 4 minutes, then slow down for 4 minutes. Breaking a sweat and speeding up your breathing will expand your chest and increase your oxygen intake as well as slowing down the increasing 'rigidity' that we often get.

Make haste slowly, ROME wasn't built in a day!

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Rigidity

As this disease progresses, unused muscles and tendons become rigid and more difficult and painful to move. So, it is a good idea to make as many muscles perform their functions as long as they possibly can. This prolongs your independence and eases pain!

Breathing

This very simple and useful exercise can be practiced several times a day, which will help to keep your chest and diaphragm expanded so you will be able to breathe with less pain!

Take a DEEP breath to a count of 3

HOLD to a count of 5

EXHALE to a count of 3.

Do this 5 or 6 times a day!

In addition, there are many other exercises you can do, such as swimming, power walking, Tai Chi, and dancing to name a few!

In bad weather, stair climbing and mini trampolines help a lot!

Use them or Lose Them!

The body tries to heal itself, and given half a chance, it will try to do so. However, it can only heal itself, if it has been cleansed, has proper nutrition, and the muscles are functioning to the best of their ability.

With this in mind, I push myself physically and mentally each and every day, with hopes that I will be able get my body and mind to create new pathways in my brain through Creative Visualization.

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Balance!

Balance is one of the bigger problems for P.D. folks!

Balance often becomes a problem for a P.D. person. As it is also a problem with many seniors, it is apt to be overlooked. While talking to a physiotherapist, I was told that if the average senior could stand on one foot for 10 seconds, they were doing pretty good. So I decided that I would see how long I could stand on one leg. Much to my chagrin, I couldn't stand on either foot to a count of 10. It was my understanding that balance was controlled by the inner ear.

Then I was told by my Kinesiologist that there were automatic balance adjustment sensors in each of our leg joints. In addition, I was told that it was possible to fine tune these sensors so as to overcome some of the the loss caused by the cell death, that created the problem in the inner ear in the first place. It is like the body compensates a blind person by sharpening the other senses. ( I have found that a Kinesiologist is a big help).

The more you force them to work, by balancing as long as you can on each foot, the more effective they will become! It will not cure the problem, but it will help.

One reason we often fall , is because our "center of gravity" has shifted forward.
This is caused by the head bending forward. The average person's head weighs between 10 & 12 lbs, & as years go by the two large muscles in the back of the neck.get tired,and sag forward. This shifts your center of gravity, upsetting your balance.
If one becomes aware of the problem soon enough,Isometric exercises can help.
Hold your head up and back in the position it used to be in, and push your head against your hands, and push your hands against your head all around. Hold for a count off 6 in this push/push position several times a day.

Use Them or Lose Them!

I try to take every approaching loss as a challenge. I feel that if I force myself to do something I am loosing, my body and mind will attempt to correct the problem, thereby slowing the process.

Am I winning? I like to think so!

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While visiting a neurologist recently, I was told that loosing one's "balance", and the resulting 'fall' was one of the main causes of death to pwp's. I did not get a chance to pursue the subject, so I gathered that a person who fell because they could no longer control their balance, might well contribute to an earlier demise because of the trama involved.