Useful Fitness and Informational Resources for Parkinson’s Patients

More than 10 million people are living with Parkinson’s disease around the world. While this number seems shocking, it also means that we have a lot of people fighting for change, relief, a cure, or a solution to some of the difficulties that Parkinson’s yields. Research and interest in Parkinson’s are making connections easier, and more and more gyms are offering Parkinson’s fitness programs. Whether you’re looking for fitness resources, a good book or blog, or educational platforms, the following internet links might offer some inspiration.

Fitness resources

Exercise is healthy for everyone, but there’s evidence that it helps Parkinson’s patients manage certain symptoms of the disease. Parkinson’s specific exercise classes are popping up all across the country. How do you find a group that fits your interests? What if you don’t have access to a Rock Steady Boxing location? Or what if boxing isn’t the right fit for you?

Adaptive Training Foundation

The Adaptive Training Foundation aims to empower its participants through high-intensity athletics and community building. Its programs — Redefine, Reignite, Redeploy — help adaptive athletes push themselves to new levels of fitness, compete successfully, and challenge themselves physically. The facility is located in Texas.

PD Movement Lab (New York)

Pamela Quinn opened the first PD Movement Lab in 2006 to explore Parkinson’s through dance. A patient herself, Quinn uses her background in dance to experiment with a variety of techniques in order to help her students find solutions to mobility issues. PD Movement Lab is a New York company with branches in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but the organization is expanding its online presence to make dance accessible to anyone with Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s Cycling Coach

There’s evidence that pedaling really fast can help reduce Parkinson’s symptoms by up to 35 percent. The people at Parkinson’s Cycling Coach aim to train people to lead indoor cycling classes, which will help patients benefit year-round. Cycling can be done at home or with a group, indoors or outdoors. And if you’re looking for a goal, Pedaling 4 Parkinson’s is an annual race that takes place in Colorado. The proceeds are donated entirely to Parkinson’s research. Having an event to train for might give you a bit of inspiration.

Informational resources

As Parkinson’s progresses, it becomes more difficult to leave the house. Physical developments make transportation tricky, and sometimes you just don’t want to be seen struggling. Resources are out there. Whether you’re seeking information or a way to exercise on your own, the internet is full of incredible platforms.

American Parkinson Disease Association

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is a grassroots organization dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s by way of fundraising, education, and public elevation. ADPA provides current news that’s related to developments in the disease and offers a location finder to help you get in touch with Parkinson’s resources near you. Its website includes information that’s tailored to specialized communities, like veterans, first responders, bilingual patients, and early-onset patients (those diagnosed before the age of 50).

Stanford Medicine

Standford Medicine, in partnership with APDA, has an incredible community outreach webpage. It includes information on local support groups and exercise classes, and offers resources like fact sheets, books, exercise videos, and live-streaming fitness classes for a wider internet audience. The “Living with PD” category touches on topics like the effect of Parkinson’s on driving ability and shares the stories of individuals’ experiences with deep brain stimulation surgery. This is a terrific resource for those who want credible information about Parkinson’s.

The right stuff

Navigating change can easily become overwhelming, and everyone’s experience with the progression of Parkinson’s is different. This can make it hard to find resources that are relevant to your situation. With a click of the mouse, however, you can access a range of information sources and fitness programs that might help you manage your disease. These websites are good places to start.

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Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.