Finding the drive: Motivation for exercising with Parkinson’s
Last updated Aug. 1, 2025, by Elena Schmidt
Fact-checked by Patrícia Silva, PhD
Living with Parkinson’s disease means managing unwelcome changes to your body, mood, and daily routine. Staying active can minimize its impact by slowing disease progression, improving balance, and lifting your spirits.
But Parkinson’s exercise motivation isn’t always easy to find. Symptoms like fatigue, stiffness, or low mood can make it harder to get moving. So what helps?
Motivation often begins with understanding the benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson’s, followed by finding an approach that fits your life and helps you build a habit that lasts.
Benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson’s
Decades of research show that exercise plays a direct role in how well you function while living with Parkinson’s disease.
Major organizations — like the Parkinson’s Foundation, the American Parkinson Disease Association, known as the APDA, and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research — recommend regular activity to help you physically move and feel better, think more clearly, and potentially slow Parkinson’s advancement.
Slowing Parkinson’s progression
Evidence so far suggests that exercise may have an attenuating effect on Parkinson’s disease progression, as several of the disease symptoms, including both motor and nonmotor effects, can be positively influenced by it.
Balance and stability
Parkinson’s fitness also improves how you move through the world. It helps you walk with more stability, reduces stiffness, strengthens posture, and builds the muscle control you need for everyday tasks.
Exercise also lowers your risk of falls, an issue that as many as 60% of people living with Parkinson’s experience each year.
Mood improvements
You may also notice that exercise helps transform your energy, mood, and sleep levels. Mind-body exercises such as yoga have been shown to relieve emotional issues, including anxiety and depression, and to enhance mood and sleep.
Think more clearly
Regular movement may also help slow the progression of memory, focus, and decision-making impairments. Research shows that aerobic activity, in particular, such as regular treadmill training, can improve attention and processing speed in people with mild cognitive symptoms.
Barriers to exercise
But knowing the benefits of exercise for people with Parkinson’s does not always inspire action. Fatigue, stiffness, and apathy can all sap your energy, making it challenging to get moving. Depression and low motivation may also affect your ability to follow through.
Other barriers include:
- pain, which may flare up during movement or linger afterward
- fear of falling, especially if you’ve had previous falls or feel unsteady on your feet
- not knowing which types of movement are safe or effective.
You may also struggle to find time to exercise, especially if you’re juggling appointments, work, or caregiving responsibilities.
The good news is that most people with Parkinson’s are capable of exercising safely. With the right guidance and creativity, you can find ways to stay active that feel manageable and rewarding.
Choosing the right exercise
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to exercise with Parkinson’s. The best routine for you depends on your symptoms, activity level, and personal goals.
If you’re mostly sedentary, just moving more throughout the day can make a difference. If you’re already active, you may benefit from building toward regular, vigorous activity.
Data from the Parkinson’s Outcomes Project, led by the Parkinson’s Foundation and one of the largest-ever clinical studies of the disease, suggests that people with Parkinson’s who exercise at least 2.5 hours a week experience a better quality of life and slower symptom progression over time.
To get the most out of your 2.5 hours, try to include a mix of:
- aerobic activity to support heart health and stamina
- strength training to build muscle and maintain function
- stretching to improve flexibility and ease stiffness.
A physical therapist can help you build a plan that fits your needs and keeps you safe. Therapists also can teach you how to modify exercises as your symptoms change — and help you work toward any specific goals, such as improving balance, walking more easily, or managing freezing episodes.
The key is to find workout routines that feel sustainable and manageable, something that challenges your body but also builds confidence. And whatever your starting point, consistency matters more than intensity.
Tips for staying motivated
Once you’ve found a way to get moving, the next challenge is keeping it up. Motivation can dip over time, especially if your Parkinson’s symptoms fluctuate or your routine starts to feel repetitive.
A few proactive strategies can help you stay on track and make exercise a regular part of your life.
Start with short bursts and build up
Work toward the goal of 30 minutes of exercise five times a week. You don’t have to do it all at once. For example, the Parkinson’s Foundation recommends walking for 10 minutes three times a day rather than doing one long session.
Create a routine
Doing your exercise at the same time each day can help it become a regular part of your routine. That way, you don’t have to decide when to move. You just show up.
Track your progress
Keeping a log or using an app to track your activity can help you notice improvements, stay accountable, and celebrate small wins.
Do something you enjoy
You’re more likely to stick with a movement that feels good in your body. That might be dancing, boxing, yoga, walking outdoors, Tai Chi, or joining a fitness class.
Lean on others
Parkinson’s fitness motivation is easier when you’re not doing it alone. Try finding a workout buddy, a local exercise group, or an online community for encouragement. The APDA has chapters nationwide with local support groups and exercise programs.
Set goals that matter to you
Focus on what you want exercise to do for your life, like reducing stiffness so mornings feel less sluggish. Personal goals give you something concrete to work toward. They make the effort feel worth it and help you notice real-life wins along the way.
Be flexible with yourself
Some days will feel more challenging than others. That’s okay. What matters most is getting back into your routine when you can, not being perfect.
Building an exercise habit with Parkinson’s takes effort, adaptability, and support. But it gets easier with time. The more your routine aligns with your life, the more likely you are to stick with it and notice a difference in how you move, think, and feel.
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 other 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.
