Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month
Parkinson’s Disease and Exercise
Parkinson's Prevalence
April is Parkinson's Disease Awareness Month in Australia. Parkinson's Disease (PD) is estimated to affect 4 per 1000 Australians, with roughly 100,000 people currently living with the disease. Of those currently living with PD one in five were diagnosed before the age of 50 while 10% are diagnosed before the age of 40. PD is the second most common neurological disease in Australia after Dementia.
Difficulties of Living with Parkinson's
For those living with Parkinson's, the disease process often begins well before people start exhibiting motor symptoms. During this phase they may experience non-motor symptoms such as reduced ability to detect odours, mood and behavioural problems, sleep disorders and constipation. Once motor symptoms appear the progression is typically gradual, often involving one side of the body first. Examples of this include reduction in arm swing on one side when walking, soft speech or intermittent tremor.
What is Parkinson's Disease?
Parkinson’s is a disorder of the nervous system which arises from damage to the cells that produce dopamine and is progressive, degenerative in nature. Dopamine is critical for the control of muscles and movement. This is why the main symptoms of Parkinson’s are:
- tremors
- shaking
- muscle rigidity or stiffness
- slowing of movement
- stooped posture
- balance problems
How Can Exercise Help?
Research has shown that exercise can help with a range of symptoms experienced by those living with Parkinson’s. Exercise can help play a preventative and maintenance role in the physical fitness and mental health of PD patients. Examples of this include strength training to assist with gait, aerobic exercise for cardiovascular health and balance specific training. The mental health benefits include improved cognition and reduced depression and fatigue.