The power of exercise to prevent and control symptoms of PD
Michael J. Fox once said, "We may each have our own individual Parkinson's, but we all share one thing in common. Hope." Well, new research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, backs that up.
Danish researchers analyzed various studies and found that high levels of physical activity, particularly from middle age on, reduce the risk of getting Parkinson's disease by up to 25%. And for folks who have been diagnosed with PD, physical exercise, specifically tailored to their needs, can control symptoms and may slow the progression of the disease. It can even stabilize or reduce the amount of medication that's needed. Further research from Dr. Jay Alberts at Dr. Mike's Cleveland Clinic indicates that strapping your feet in a motorized stationary bike and pedaling at 90 revolutions per minute can reduce PD symptoms (various studies show by 30% to 51%). Try 30 minutes, three times a week to cause regrowth of dopaminergic neurons; in a subset of patients, PD is reversed.
The recommendation is that every PD patient have exercise prescribed as part of their care routine. People with difficulty walking should be instructed in exercises that help make it easier to get around; people who have trouble standing from a chair need leg-strengthening exercise; and balance exercises benefit everyone with PD.
For a downloadable guide on Parkinson's and exercise, go to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research at michaeljfox.org. And for information on various ways to manage PD, visit iHerb.com's blog, "How to Manage Parkinson's Naturally."
Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's).
(c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
