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Types of Home Exercises for Parkinson's Disease Certain types of exercises may help, such as : a.. Stretching . Simple stretches can be done anywhere and help to keep the body flexible and mobile. They should be done throughout the day, each exercise repeated three times, and holding the stretch for three to five full breaths. b.. Strength training exercises with light weights can be done at home. They help to improve balance and co-ordination by strengthening muscles, and also increase resistance to fractures by strengthening bones. c.. Aerobic exercises such as walking, cycling, dancing, or swimming help to maintain general health and well being of the patient. While walking, the patient should practice heel to toe placement of the feet, longer strides for walking and short steps with feet apart while turning, and swinging the arms by the side. d.. Aquatic exercises performed in a warm pool give excellent results regarding improvement in muscle tone, increasing range of motion, and helping to reduce pain and stiffness. The buoyancy of the water helps to improve balance and posture without the risk of falling. e.. Exercises to involve movement of the limbs in full range improve flexibility and mobility. f.. Singing loudly, reading aloud, making faces in the mirror, or chewing help to strengthen the facial and jaw muscles. g.. Yawning helps by opening the throat and helps with swallowing problems as well as clear speech. h.. Practicing Tai chi and yoga exercises can help to improve strength, balance, and flexibility, as well as reduce stress and joint pains. Exercises should be stopped at any point if you are feeling unwell or if in pain and further exercises should only be resumed after consulting with your doctor. Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn