Can I have a rant about exercise claims?!

Hello Everyone - and thanks for replying and being encouraging - I must have been having a grumpy day like we all do with this annoying frustrating condition - anyway I really appreciate all the encouragement and replies. So, can anyone recommend a PD Warrior class in central or west London? And any other exercise classes geared towards us Parkies - tango, body popping - I’ll give it all a go!! even though I feel as stiff as a board a lot of the time!! Its good to connect and chat to others with pd too so all recommendations welcome

Many thanks

I was diagnosed in August '17. At that point I had difficulty getting out of a chair or a bath. I had the stereotypical Parkinson’s shuffle. My balance was terrible and I had frequent falls and trips. I couldn’t walk more than a short distance and I spent most of my time sitting in a chair or resting on the bed. I could no longer swim because I could not coordinate my movements. I’d been using a stick for a couple of years.

I started neuro physiotherapy several weeks before I started meds and immediately began to improve. Even before I’d taken any Madopar, I was able to get out of a chair easily and my walking was improved. The NHS physiotherapist showed me the Parkinson’s Warrior exercises which I started doing every day.

After a couple of months of physiotherapy, the physiotherapist referred me to the exercise classes run by the local Parkinson’s UK group with the NHS. I’ve been doing those weekly classes for about 18 months now. Our therapist uses the PW exercises in combination with other exercises. I found them very difficult at first, but I have gradually improved. I also attend a Parkinson’s Movement to Music class.

Last autumn, I spent a fortnight at the European Parkinson’s Centre in Italy and learnt their exercise programme, which is different to, but based on the same principles as PW. Since the centre is attached to a spa with a swimming pool, I used the opportunity to start swimming again.

Nowadays I try to spend at least 45 minutes in vigorous exercise every day. On days when I don’t have a class, I go on a half hour walk. I do the exercise routine I learned in Italy and I also use an exercise bike.

Progress hasn’t been steady. I’ve had bad patches when I’ve had strained muscles,or experienced ‘wearing off’ when I was not on enough medication, and I’ve often had to overcome the lethargy and depression which goes with this disease. Nowadays, however, I can walk at a normal pace, with a normal gait, most of the time. I can swim, and I go swimming once a week. I stopped using a stick six months ago.

I have no way of knowing whether the exercise has slowed down the progression of my Parkinson’s, or how much of my improvement is down to medication and how much to exercise. But I am quite certain that the exercise has helped me rebuild my strength and I’d be a lot less healthy if I wasn’t doing it.

Keep pushing…

Sarah007
We are no different than people with many types of disease. Like jules47 keep pushing. Fine something that you like that keeps you moving. I see stories of vets that should never walk again, people that have so little heart function put it in their head and get out of bed. Inside of everyone we have a choice to quit or not.
Just find something you like. If you don’t move it the sooner you lose it. The sooner you lose it you become a burden for your loved one. Tom PWP

Amazing thank you Liz, you’re inspiring. Best wishes to you and thanks for the note.

I guess I have to come clean and own up that I suppose I need some days off from doing push ups - I suppose you can do too much of a good thing LOL! Certainly my back has had enough of it

I was Dx in 2017 and had not realised how unfit I had become prior to finding out I had Tremor dominant Parkinson’s. I 'm not sure that exercise slows the progression of Parkinson’s but I exercise every day for at least forty minutes. A combination of HITT on my recumbent exercise bike and PD warrior exercises. I do feel better after the exercise and it seems to reduce my tremors. I believe multi-tasking and forced exercise helps maintain function and the ability to do every day tasks. If I stop even for a week I find it much harder to do the same exercises and it takes a while to ramp up to my normal fitness level. Now after two years aged 71 with my tremors getting slowly worse I can still do the same level two PD warrior exercises.

Hi,
I hope it helps.

Well, I’ve just finished the 10 week PD challenge. It certainly is challenging, but I’m so glad I forced myself through it. I was referred to neurophysio who specialises in PD Warrior by another physio. The classes are 40 mins away, but the support from the instructor, and especially the other participants has kept me going. She gave me a link to the 10 week challenge programme and I’ve done it almost every day. I’ve noticed my walking has improved to an amazing degree. I used to use a stick, but don’t need it now. Balance is still not brilliant, but it’s getting better. Yesterday I re-did the testing from three months ago and the difference was just amazing. I do the exercises before breakfast so I don’t have an excuse to put them off! It might not be for everyone, but some of the participants in the class are much more advanced than me and they say they still feel the benefits. It’s not something you can give up on after the ten weeks, but i used to run marathons and trained every day after work, so I’m sure I can do this! Who knows what the long term effects will be, but I feel much more positive now.

We went on a follow up appointment, to see my local GP ,following a tic bite, resulting in Lyme Disease and a spell in hospital which had left me with a bit of tremor.

We actually saw a Locum, who seemed very interested in my symptoms , and she referred me to the hospital” for an appointment with the Neurology Team, which they confirmed the next day as being in 1 week ‘s time!

I have been going to ladies gym, Curves, resistance training 30 minutes 3-4 days a week. Work through computer to own personal level and not competitive. I find it really helps with my stiffness and aches and pains. walking also helps but I’m not able to do anything more vigorous.

I feel ok so will keep going