What Type Of Exercises Are Helpful In Managing Parkinson's Symptoms?

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Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder characterized by unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.

After Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world [1].

In most cases, symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear gradually and worsen over time. As the disease progresses, people may experience difficulty walking and speaking, sleep disturbances, depression, memory problems, and fatigue.

Parkinson's disease could affect anyone, yet some research studies suggest it affects more men than women.

The reason for this is unclear, but studies are underway to determine what factors may increase a person's risk.

What Are The Symptoms Of Parkinson's?

The four main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are as follows [2]:

• Hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head tremors
• Stiffness of the muscles, characterised by long-term contractions of the muscles
• Movement at a slow pace
• Falling due to impaired balance and coordination

Other symptoms may include depression and other mood changes, difficulties swallowing, chewing, or speaking, and urinary problems or constipation.

Despite the fact that Parkinson's disease cannot be cured, medications can significantly improve your symptoms. You may also be recommended the surgery in order to regulate certain areas of your brain and help alleviate your symptoms.

Parkinson's And Exercise: Can It Help With The Symptoms?

Experts state that exercise has been considered an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease for over 60 years [3][4].

In a recent study, scientists found that a hormone produced during exercise reduces the levels of a protein responsible for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease [5].

Researchers examined 10 broader categories of exercise studies as part of this analysis, namely:

• Dance
• Aqua‐based exercise
• Gait/ balance/ functional exercise
• Multi‐domain training
• Mind‐body training
• Endurance training
• Flexibility training
• Strength/resistance training
• Gaming
• LSVT BIG - a physical therapy program designed to improve the function of people with Parkinson's disease.

Based on the results of the analyses on the impact of different types of exercise on the severity of motor signs, the following was revealed [6]:

• There is evidence that dance is moderately beneficial
• The evidence suggests that aqua-based exercise may have a moderately beneficial effect
• Evidence indicates that gait/balance/functional exercises may have a moderately beneficial effect.
• Evidence suggests that multi-domain training may be moderately beneficial
• It appears that mind-body training may have a small beneficial effect
• Exercise training - evidence suggests that it may have a small beneficial effect
• The evidence suggests that flexibility training is either trivial or ineffective
• There is a great deal of uncertainty regarding the evidence for strength/resistance training
• The evidence for LSVT BIG is very uncertain.

According to the researchers, various types of exercise can improve the quality of life of individuals with Parkinson's disease and their ability to move.

Is There A Specific Type Of Exercise Beneficial For Parkinson's Disease?

In their study, the authors noted that an exercise program tailored specifically to the needs of patients with Parkinson's disease might be the most effective method of reducing specific motor symptoms [7].

Researchers found, for the most part, that no one type of exercise outperformed the rest in delivering benefits to people with Parkinson's disease, which provides health practitioners with some flexibility when speaking with patients.

On A Final Note...

Exercises, especially those that encourage balance and reciprocal patterns, can actually slow the progression of the disease and alleviate its symptoms [8].

A number of activities have been shown to have positive effects on Parkinson's disease symptoms, including bicycling, running, Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, dance, weight training, non-contact boxing, and Qi gong.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.