1. Parkinson’s Disease and Exercise By: Andrew Miller

2. What is Parkinson’s Disease? Disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination Usually develops after age 50 One of the most common nervous system disorders of the orderly Parkinson’s disease occurs when the nerve cells in the brain that make dopamine (controls muscle movement) are slowly destroyed

3. What it is Cont’d W/o dopamine, the brain cannot properly send messages to the muscles, thus the loss of muscle control

4. Signs and Tests Tremors, change in muscle tone, problems walking, unsteady posture Difficulty starting or finishing voluntary movements Jerky, stiff movements Muscle atrophy Variation in heart rate

5. Quick video to show signs and symptoms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPI1J56VhV4

6. Medications & Treatment Medications Levodopa Pramipexole Selegiline Amantadine Entacapone Treatment Medications to help increase the amount of dopamine in the brain Exercise, good nutrition, physical therapy, good amounts of rest Surgery is an option also for people with severe Parkinson’s

7. Expectations if Untreated Disorder will get worse until a person is totally disabled Parkinson’s may lead to a deterioration of all brain functions, and an early death

8. Complications with Parkinson’s that Occur Difficulty with daily tasks Trouble swallowing or eating Disability Injuries from falls Side effects of medications Michael J. Fox has raised millions for research for Parkinson’s disease

9. Benefits of Exercise Doctors used motion therapy and physical activity to help patients manage their symptoms Research has shown that people with Parkinson’s who exercise regularly often see an improvement in balance and managing daily activities Exercise can restore function lost to the disease

10. Benefits Cont’d Exercise can prevent the loss of independence that Parkinson’s takes from individuals living with the disease Exercise can help Parkinson’s patients be able to enjoy daily activities and be able to enjoy life Exercise also helps Parkinson’s patients keep a positive attitude especially since “depression is a common issue for Parkinson’s patients.”

11. Types of Beneficial Exercise Stretching Stretching helps fight the rigidity of the muscles found in Parkinson’s Strength Training Can help fight balance and coordination problems, and can help increase bone strength the reduce fractures or broken bones in cases of falls Aerobic Help Parkinson’s patients to maintain overall health by keeping the heart and lungs strong

12. Types of Exercise Cont’d Aquatic Buoyancy in water helps provide support for weak muscles, allows for Parkinson’s patients to move freely without the risk of falling Aquatic exercise helps promote better range of motion, improve muscle tone, and reduction in stiffness and pain Range of Motion Therapy Helps patients maintain flexibility and mobility Range-of-motion therapy requires patient to move his/her limbs in a full range

13. Sources for More Information http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001762 http://www.everydayhealth.com/parkinsons-disease/exercising-with-parkinsons-disease.aspx