Parkinson'sExercise For Health.

Q: What is Parkinson's?

A: Parkinson’s is a chronic neurodegenerative

condition. Untreated, it generally leads to

progressive disability and reduced health-related

quality of life. It is characterized by slowness of

movement (called bradykinesia), postural instability,

tremors, stiffness of the limbs and trunk and

reduced muscular strength

Q: What is the rationalefor exercise in the

treatment of Parkinson’s?

A: Not only are Parkinson’s patients generally

weaker than age-matched controls but they also

display lower rates of force development, reduced

strength at higher joint angular velocities, reduced

strength and end ranges of joint range-of-motion,

poorer sit-to-stand ability and markedly lower hip

extension torque

Q: Is treadmill walkinguseful for patients with

Parkinson’s?

A: Treadmill walking is almost certainly useful for

improving walking speed and stride length. Treadmill

walking is probably also beneficial for improving

lower body function (e.g. walking down a corridor,

performing a U-turn, turning around a chair,

ascending stairs, standing on one foot, and sit-to-

stand), risk of falling, fear of falling, Parkinson’s

symptoms and health-related quality of life

Q: Is resistance traininguseful for patients with

Parkinson’s?

A: Resistance training appears to be

effective for increasing muscular strength,

balance and some measures of physical

function, including walking speed, in

patients with Parkinson’s

Q: Is motor controltraining useful for

Parkinson’s?

A: There is some limited evidence to

suggest that balance training, gait training

or cueing can help improve balance and/or

walking performance in patients with

Parkinson’s

For more information:www.exercise-for-health.com/parkinsons

Exercise For Health.