Hopefully, you will, through your own experience, be able to proclaim that exercise really is medicine for Parkinson’s Disease.
Jay Alberts, PhD, Neuroscientist, The Cleveland Clinic
Hot off the Press
There is a great new book out by personal trainer, Kristine Meldrum, BA, ACE: Parkinson’s: How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise. Along with co-authors Jay Alberts, PhD and Daniel M Corcos, PhD, she has written an essential book that will help anyone with Parkinson’s wanting to incorporate exercise into the daily life to combat PD.
Bastiaan R. Bloeme MD, PhD, FRECPE, states in his forward to the book “To my mind, this book is a must read for every person with Parkinson’s Disease who wishes to take more control over the disease by picking up exercise as a new therapy.”
Beginning with a history of Parkinson’s Disease that goes back as far as 600 BC in ancient India, Meldrum discusses the research for exercise with Parkinson’s in the last 200+ years since James Parkinson’s landmark paper on An Essay on The Shaking Palsy. Early attempts at using exercise were replaced by prescriptions for no exercise during the time Meldrum calls the Dark Ages for PD patients.
And then, in 2003, Jay Alberts arranged for a group of cyclists with PD into riding in the annual RAGBRAI ride (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). This is a rigorous seven day ride from the Missouri River to the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa. Cathy, who has Parkinson’s, rode tandem with Alberts, who forced her to pedal faster than she would have on her own. Cathy said that at the end of each day, she did not feel like she had Parkinson’s. That statement changed everything. Alberts then began to research the effects of forced exercise on Parkinson’s symptoms.
The book follows Albert’s research with bicycles that led to other studies. Northwestern University professor Daniel Corcos used treadmills for his SPARX2 and SPARX3 trials. Other trials followed, all showing the benefits of high intensity exercise for People with Parkinson’s. There is also a chapter on The Science Behind PD Exercise, which is written clearly so that everyone reading it can understand it.
As a result of this research, exercise programs like the popular Rock Steady Boxing started up and recommendations were made for PwP’s and personal trainers who work with them. Many of the PD organizations developed their own recommendations for exercise based on these recommendations.
There are many case studies in the book, including several people that I know. It is fun to read how they are thriving with Parkinson’s because of their exercise routines (or Exercise Cocktail as Meldrum calls it). In addition, there are a lot of resources in the appendix.
This is a book that should be on the bookshelf of every person with Parkinson’s Disease, available to look at again and again. It is never too late to start exercising. This is a book that will be your constant reference guide. Order it now. Your brain will thank you.
Have a great week!
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