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>From: Murray Charters <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Parkinson's Information Exchange Network ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Exercise Important For People With Parkinson's >Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2004 22:05:05 -0800 > >Exercise Important For People With Parkinson's >Thursday, 28 October 2004, 4:16 pm >Press Release: Parkinsons New Zealand >28 October 2004 > >Exercise important for people with Parkinson's > >We all know the importance of making exercise part of everyday >living. For people with Parkinson's disease exercise is a strategic >component, helping to improve body strength and muscle tone, and >slowing the progression of the condition. As well as improving >general health and well-being, exercise seems to improve the body's >response to dopamine - a component of most Parkinson's medications. > >"People with Parkinson's are advised to get around 20 to 30 minutes >of exercise each day," said Parkinson's New Zealand National Director >Deirdre O'Sullivan. "Stretching exercises are particularly >beneficial." > >Research has shown that exercise can significantly reduce falls, a >common problem for people with Parkinson's. Strength, flexibility and >balance exercises will decrease the risk of falling. Exercises to >build strength and flexibility are part of an exercise booklet and >poster produced by Parkinson's New Zealand as part of this year's >Parkinson's Awareness Week theme Keep moving, keep fit. Awareness >Week is runs from 1 to 7 November. > >Parkinsons New Zealand is the only organisation that provides >support, education and information to people with Parkinsonism >conditions, their families, carers and health professionals. >Parkinsons New Zealand has divisions and support groups throughout >New Zealand. The divisions are run by volunteers and employ 35 >professional Field Officers who visit people in their homes providing >information and education, act as advocates arranging extra >assistance where needed, as well as co-ordinating exercise classes >and social activities. > >The organisation also has a special interest group called Upbeat for >people with young onset Parkinson's. > >Parkinson's affects 1 person in every 500 - over 8,000 New >Zealanders. >"While being more common in those over 65, the condition also affects >people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s," said Ms O'Sullivan. "As we live >longer it means more people in the community will be living with >Parkinson's or will know someone who is affected." > >Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive condition which occurs >when insufficient quantities of the chemical dopamine are produced by >the brain. This causes many changes in the body's ability to initiate >movement and can affect balance and coordination. Symptoms vary in >individuals but the main ones are tremor, slowness of movement and >rigidity. > >Learning to pace yourself, prioritising goals and making timely use >of physical, occupational and speech therapy can be beneficial. > >Exercise can make all the difference to how you enjoy life; maintain >mobility and independence. Maintaining a positive attitude is one of >the healthiest things you can do in life, particularly for those >people living with Parkinson's. > >Although there is no cure yet, with support, encouragement and a >positive attitude people with Parkinson's can lead active lives for >many years. The main form of treatment is medication, and there's a >lot of research going on both in New Zealand and overseas to find a >cure. > >Living with Parkinson's can be difficult for people with Parkinson's, >their families and carers. Ms O'Sullivan said, "Imagine not being >able to smile at a friend or hug your child, and permanently feeling >exhausted. Imagine visibly shaking and being unable to pick up a cup >of coffee. This is what life with Parkinson's can be like some days." > >People with Parkinson's continue to think the same way, but can be >slow to react, have difficulty communicating and can appear >unresponsive. A lack of understanding from people around them often >adds to the distress. > >Parkinsons New Zealand would like people to think before commenting >when someone is holding up a queue or doesn't respond to a question - >"perhaps that person has Parkinson's". > >There are things that people with Parkinson's can do to dramatically >increase their quality of life by making some practices part of their >daily routine. Ms O'Sullivan said, "Regular exercise, being part of a >support group, maintaining a healthy diet and having accurate >information about Parkinson's are just some of the things people >might consider. > >"Working together with our Parkinson's Field Officers and divisions >people can ensure that they are managing their condition in the best >possible way." > >SOURCE: Scoop Media - 27-Oct-2004 >http://tinyurl.com/587ac > >* * * > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: >mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn Good Afternoon, I am a student of Bristol Community College in Fall River, Massachusetts. I am in the Occupational Therapy Program. I joined your listserve to learn from your experiences in order to write a paper for my Language Module class. More importantly, I chose PD to study, to help in supporting a wonderful gentleman from Rhode Island in my role as support staff, for an agengy called Living in Fufilling Environments, LIFE, Inc.. I would like to thank you all for the experience of sharing your thoughts, struggles, and words of wisdom. I would like to use some of this info in my paper & hope it will be all right for me to quote some of the statements that should not be broken down. Many thanks, Maria Lombardo OTA/s _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn