This sounds fantastic: Physical workouts combined with cognitive exercises for people with Parkinson’s disease! Read all about it here.
The class, called “ParkinGo,” is taught by Jillian Carson, a former physiotherapist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009. For part of the class, participants toss a ball to each other while asking questions such as “What did you have for breakfast yesterday?” The idea is to “build the relationship between muscle movement and brain activity.”
The results are amazing. To quote directly from the article:
Several people have reduced their medications, like George Brown, a regular who’s had Parkinson’s for 20 years. Since starting the exercise class Brown has gone from nine meds to three, and no longer has to use either of his canes.
Another woman came in using walking sticks, and eight months later, she was running. Carson herself has halved her medication since beginning the regime.
What more could you want? Fun, fitness, fantastic results.
“By the time they’re leaving, their writing is normal,” says Carson. “They’re smiling, and everyone is laughing and giggling. They’re doing more all of a sudden, and they’re living again.”
Scotty? Scotty? Beam me up!
Such encouraging information!! I am looking now for therapists in Orlando who teach these classes. If there are none, I’ll make every effort to find someone who will take the initiative to start.
This sounds fantastic! Why isn’t everyone doing it?????????????