Movement problems experienced by people with Parkinson’s disease are caused by a shortage of an important chemical messenger found in the brain called dopamine.
As a result, exercise can be an important part to producing good outcomes for Parkinson’s patients. Exercise can improve gait, balance, tremor, flexibility, grip, and motor coordination. In addition, researchers at the University of Southern California (Fisher et al.) who, when looking at the brains of mice, found that while exercise didn’t change either the amount of dopamine or the number of nerve cells in the animal’s brains, the mice that had exercised had brain cells that were using more efficiently.
Examples of people with Parkinson’s that are deriving benefits are well documented, including these five inspiring people and people in Texas who take a ballet class specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s.
At Caring Hands Caregivers, we work with our clients to develop activity plans that suit their specific needs. If you or a loved one has Parkinson’s disease, and would like to hear more about our services, send me an email. We can schedule a care options review at your convenience.