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About a year ago, we received a small grant to start a "Gait and Balance" class, which incorporates Tai Chi, dance, stretching, relaxation and a lot of other techniques into a program specifically designed for PD patients. It's good basic exercise and especially focuses on gait and balance problems. We have only 12 patients in a class with a physical therapist and one or more volunteer assistants. Most importantly, perhaps, every patient attends with a caregiver so the good habits acquired in class can be repeated at home. The classes cost about $45 for a series of 8 sessions over 4 weeks. Judging by patient evaluations, these have been wildly successful and I only wish we could offer them in other locations. Perhaps other centers have something similar. At 03:36 PM 10/2/98 EDT, you wrote: > Exercise appropriate to one's condition is advocated by NPF, APDA, et al and >have published pamphlets with recommended exercises complete with diagrams. >Exercise classes for PWPs have been offerred locally for many years and now >satellite centers for PWPs include Physical Therapists. > My personal experience with PT has had mixed results. Before and during the >time I was looking for a diagnosis (81-85), a lot of PT was prescribed for my >right arm & shoulder to no avail. After tentatively being dx w PD in '84 and >again in '85 + a 2nd opinion, I sprained my neck doing PT exercises at home. >This was followed by damaging machine, then manual, traction. I have had neck >problems ever since. PD Meds weren't started until 1988. > After that I took walks, swam or did mild exercises in the local pool, & >attended local PD exercise groups. About 1992 I also incorporated some warm- >up Tai Chi exercises from a video, deep-breathing exercises, and Feldenkrais >classes, one-on-one, and at-home audio tapes. I felt at the time that these 3 >add-on measures helped me for the condition I was in then, but I did have to >watch myself to not tax my body when I was rigid. I also stopped the one-on- >one when I found I was taking more meds just to make that appointment. > I am subject to more rigidity now and more weakness on my right side. I have >substituted weekly massages for a lot of the above. Maybe, as I told a >visitor recently, I will review my Feldenkrais tapes and perhaps try a few >exercises--just as soon as I figure out where I put them! > >Barbara Blake-Krebs (57, 1984) >Merriam KS >[log in to unmask] > ><< >Agree: exercise helps and group classes can be more fun. Has anyone had any >experience with the Feldenkrais Method --either individual one on one >treatment or the group exercise program? It is reported to be particularly >well suited for people with neurological problems, among them PD. Anyone with >first hand knowledge? >[log in to unmask] >>> > > =========================================================================== Carole L. Cassidy, CFRE Director of Developmenet and Community Relations The Parkinson's Institute 1170 Morse Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94089 408-542-5628 direct line 408-734-8522 fax