Researchers at the new Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at BarrowNeurological Institute in Phoenix launched a study this month designedto determine the physical and neurological impact of simple exercise onParkinsons disease patients age 50 to 70.

During the 12-weektrial, participants follow a structured exercise program calledpole-striding (walking with ski-like poles) three days a week for 45minutes.

They are monitored and coached by staff members fromthe Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. They wear heart rate monitors andpedometers to measure the intensity of the training.

Participantsbrains are monitored to determine if increased physical activity helpsprotect the neurons in the brain from the disease.

Parkinsons disease is a difficult and frustrating illness affecting onein 500 people in the UK. There are a wealth of services, advice andproducts on hand that can help with symptoms and side effectsassociated with Parkinsons disease, making life easier for both careersand patients.

Parkinsons disease or PD as it can often be calledis a movement disorder that persists over a long period of time andprogressively gets worse. This degenerative disorder attacks thecentral nervous system resulting in impaired motor skills that causetremors, muscle rigidity, and slowing or loss of physical movement.

Exerciseand mobility are the best things you can do/ or encourage to restoresome independence against Parkinsons negative effects. Medical expertsview exercise with the same level of importance as medication when itcomes to the management of Parkinsons disease. Exercise helps bykeeping muscles strong and improving flexibility and mobility, as wellas recovering balance and preventing joint stiffening. For exampleinvesting in a Pedal Exerciser can help re-establish muscle strength inthe lower body and is easy to use in the home.

Getting out andabout is important, as it a great source of both physical and mentalactivity improving the quality of life for the Parkinsons patient.Mobility Aids such as walking sticks are designed to provide supportfor those who have difficulty keeping their balance. A Parkinson'spatient tends to stoop forward and shuffle, so the Quad Cane would be arecommended strong support for the patient. However there is theWalking Stick Seat that as implied in its name, has a seat for when theuser feels fatigued and can be easily folded for storage or travel.

Freezing,getting locked in one position is an immobilizing symptom of Parkinsonsthat prevents the patient from walking. The Parkinsons sufferer cannotseem to focus on taking another step however there is a mobility aid onthe market that combats this problem. This mobility product is a laserthat come attached to walking stick, beaming a line onto the groundencouraging the user to step over it. To purchase this specialist item,or to request further details please email mail@collinscare.co.uk, orcall 01603 483883.

Hand tremors can be an embarrassing symptomof Parkinsons, but one that can often be compensated for by usingmobility utensils. For example the Sure Grip Cup has deep groves toresist slippage and the Good Grips Weighted Cutlery has added weight toengage more muscle control. These products and many more allow theParkinson's patient to remain more independent, which can help with theside effect of depression that can be related to this disease.

Tai Chi movements gentle balance enhancing motions can obviously helpthe Parkinsons patient by helping to reduce the gradual loss ofbalance that Parkinsons sufferers often experience. However, there maybe much more it offers. For example, Tai Chi movements rotate the humanbody in about 95% of the ways the body can move, when a long form ispracticed. This is far beyond what other exercise offers, and in factthe closest would be several swimming strokes, which together wouldonly rotate the body in about 65% of the ways it can move. ForParkinsons sufferers, or anyone for that matter, this would indicatethat by using 95% of the bodys possible motion several times a week,the possibility of losing the ability to do so diminishesaccordingly. This isnt rocket science, but simple common sense.


Yet,perhaps Parkinsons patients have even more to gain from Tai Chi. A fewyears ago I taught several classes at local medical centers. I wascontinually frustrated because although Id seen emerging reports thatTai Chi was beneficial to people with Parkinsons Disease, orarthritis, or chronic hypertension, etc., even though the departmentsthat specialized in those conditions were often just down the hall frommy Tai Chi class . . . they might as well have been a million milesaway. Because the physicians who ran those departments were eitherignorant of or unwilling to refer their patients to the possibilitiesthat Tai Chi offered their lives.