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Hi, Nancy I agree, exercise is very important for Parkies, as well as others with chronic illnesses. Here are my 'Ten Commandments' regarding exercise. 1. Without exercise, muscles will atrophy (wither or waste away) and not be sufficiently capable of action when needed. This includes the heart muscles, and the muscles of the diaphragm, a muscular membranous partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities and functioning in respiration, which, together with the intercostal muscles (those between the ribs) enables us to breathe. 2. Muscle groups that support and protect bones will no longer be strong enough to afford that support. Examples are chest muscles protecting ribs, buttock that protect the end of the spine and the base of the pelvis. 3. Without exercise one becomes prone to osteoporosis, a disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to fracture, and heal slowly. 4. If one is prone to falling, having stronger muscles can often avert the fall, or at least mitigate the consequences. However, if muscles are weak, one may actually worsen the effects by attempting to recover one's balance by, say, reaching for a railing. Further, the fall may fracture bones such as the femur (thighbone) and pelvis. 5. People who do not exercise often sometimes do not go outside the house much. If one doesn't get enough sunlight (or at least ultraviolet light) on one's skin, one can suffer from a deficiency of Vitamin D, which is produced in general by ultraviolet irradiation of sterols found in milk, fish, and eggs. 6. Muscles that are not exercised sufficiently and regularly cramp more easily when any unusual demand is made of them, causing unnecessary pain. 7. If the muscles of the calf are not sufficiently exercised, one becomes prone to circulatory problems. Blood in leg veins is normally assisted back to the heart by the pumping action of the calf muscles. If the calf muscles are not sufficiently used, varicose veins can form in the leg, and circulatory problems can occur. 8. If one does not exercise sufficiently, and at the same time makes no downward adjustment to the calorie intake, obesity is the usual result. This in turn can lead to diabetes, pain in leg joints, circulatory problems, heart disease, and other unpleasant results. 9. Lack of adequate exercise leads to a low level of aerobic conditioning, the process that allows muscles to get and utilize oxygen-rich blood. 10. A low level of exercise leads to a low level of self-esteem, which leads to depression, which leads to an even lower level of exercise. I think we have quite problems to care about, without manufacturing more for ourselves! Further, I agree about the personal trainer, or at least a component person who will (gently) insist on a reasonable level of exercise. Some people who may not be able to perform exercises themselves, can still be aided by 'passive' exercising, where muscle groups are stimulated by a tiny electric current to contract rhythmically, or by using motor-assisted exercise machines. Remember "Use it, or lose it". <grin> Jim Slattery ------------------------------ Jim Slattery - [log in to unmask] CW PD Web - [log in to unmask] http://www.bec.net.au/~cwpdg/ ------------------------------