> Dear Everyone,
>
> J. R. Newbrough suggested that I post a list of references that dealt
> with the benefits of exercise for PD, so that all who are interested
> can go to the library and read these articles.
>
> I am doing my dissertation on the effects of strength and balance
> training on PD for persons with stage III PD. As some of you may know,
> falling is a major problem for all older adults, but especially so for
> persons with PD. In fact, Parkinsons's has been called the
> "falling sickness". A pilto study was recenty conducted by myself and
> others. This purpose of this study was to determine if training could
> helppreviously sedentary persons with PD improve their balance. The results
 were
> remarkable!!! Persons with stage I-IV PD who fell regularily prior to
> the training had no falls following 10 weeks of strength and balance
> training.
>
> Specific training for the muscles of the lower extremities and
> training of the balance sensory systems have shown to be very
> beneficial for persons with PD. This is exciting because it shows that
> a person with a degenerative neurological condition can experience
> significant improvements. I believe that exercise, not drug therapy
> alone will be an extremely beneficial type of therapy of the future.
> Unfortunately, very few persons are exercising on a regular basis.
> Research stusdudies on the incidence of exercise in the adult
> population show that only 8% of all adults in this country exercise 3
> or more times per week! Persons with a disability or persons who are
> institutionalized have very low physical activity levels. In general,
> persons with disabilities tend to exercise less than healthy adults.
> Persons with low physical activity levels are also more dependent on
> others for help in activities of daily living. Persons with PD who
> remain active throughout their condition outlive persons with PD who
> are sedentary. Thus, an elevated physical activity level may be the
> key to both longevity and quality of life in PD!
>
> An interesting phenomenon is that it's as difficult to persuade
> persons with PD to exercise as it is to persuade college
> undergraduates that older adults can BENEFIT from exercise. We must
> learn to overcome the stereotypes we have of aging and disease.
> Participation in exercise can help to improve health, decrease the
> risk of injury sustained during a sudden fall, and ultimately it will
> wipe out the idea that persons with disabilities cannot improve on
> anything.
>
> I am 29 years old and I believe that exercise can be the elixir of
> life. Here are the references to articles that talk about the benefits
> of exercise :
>
> American Academy of Neurology. (1994). Practice parameters: Initial
> therapy of PD. IN: Neurology, #43, pg. 1296-1297.
>
> American College of Sports Medicine. (1993). The recommended quality
> and quantity of exercise for developing and maintaining
> cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness in healthy adults. In: Medicine
> and Science in Sports and Exercise, #22, pg. 265-274.
>
> Astrand, P. O. (1991). Why exercise? In: Medicine and Science in
> Sports and Exercise, #24, 153-162.
>
> Berger, B. G. (1988). The role of physical activity in the life
> quality of older adults. In: Academy Papers, #22, 42-58.
>
> Comella, C. L., Stebbins, G. T., Brown-Toms, N., and Goetz, C. G.
> (1994). Physical therapy and Parkinson's disease: A controlled
> clinical trial. In: Neurology, #44, pg.376-378.
>
> Evans, W. J. (1992). Exercise, nutrition and aging. In: Journal of
> Nutrition, #122, 796-801.
>
> Grimby, G. (1990). Muscle changes and trainability in the elderly. In:
> Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitstion, Volume 5 #2, pg 54-62.
>
> Kiawans, H. L., and Topei, J. L. (1974). Parkinsonism as a falling
> sickness. In: Journal of the American Medical Association, #230, pg.
> 1555-1557.
>
> Koller, W. C., Glatt, S., Vetere-Overield, B., and Hassanein, R.
> (1989). Falls and parkinson's disease. In: Clinical Neuropharmacology,
> Volume 12, #2, pg. 98-105.
>
> These references are available at a library. If the library does not
> have them you can get them through Inter-Library-Loan (ILL) free of
> charge. These articles are not too technical. It's not like reading
> "Time Magazine" but I'm afraid that's the best I can do.
>
> This is by no means a complete reference list. I have over 250
> references on exercise and aging and a few on exercise and PD. I would
> love to hear from anyone, concerning exercise and PD.
>
> Yours, In Sport
>
> Mark A. Hirsch ([log in to unmask])--
>
>
>
 
 
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