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Vigorous Exercise: A Possible Method to Slow Parkinson’s Progression

chicago-tribune-tribune

Parkinson’s disease progression can be slowed with vigorous exercise, study shows.

Several lines of evidence point to a beneficial effect of exercise in Parkinson’s disease.”Dr. Codrin Lungu
program director at the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Joint Parkinson’s disease study at Northwestern Medicine and the University of Colorado School of MedicineA team of researchers from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Colorado School of Medicine performed a study to determine the effects of moderate- and high-intensity exercise on the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms. Funded by the Parkinson’s Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, this study also set out to address the concern that higher-intensity workouts may be too demanding on people Parkinson’s disease.

Not only did the study conclude that exercise is a safe option for potentially delaying the progression of Parkinson’s disease, they found that exercise was more effective at higher intensities. The group that performed a moderate exercise regimen had their symptoms progress at half the rate of the control group (who did not exercise at all), while the group that participated in a high-intensity regimen saw their symptoms stabilize and even slightly improve.

For Geoffrey Rogers, a 69-year-old Parkinson’s patient who took part in the study, the results were pronounced: after a high-intensity workout, his tremors appeared to calm down. In the years since he began the workout regimen, the benefits have not changed, he said. He’s experienced no side effects either.”Ese Olumhense
Chicago Tribune

In the Chicago Tribune article, lead author of the study Dr. Daniel Corcos explains that their findings reinforce the notion that ‘exercise is medicine.’ He also notes the importance of consistency when it comes to experiencing and retaining the benefits of exercise, “It has to be a sustained lifetime commitment.”

Because Parkinson’s symptoms can make it difficult to work out regularly or to achieve a high-intensity workout, the Theracycle was designed expressly for this purpose – to enable users to experience regular, high-intensity workouts both under their own power and through forced exercise.

The complete Chicago Tribune article is available from the link below: