Body
This class is specifically designed to help individuals with later stages of Parkinson’s disease use exercise for symptom management. The class emphasizes high-intensity, rhythmical movement and addresses postural awareness, strength, flexibility, breathing and vocal/facial expression.
Major symptoms addressed in this class include:
- Reduction in movement (size and speed)
- Rigidity
- Decreased spinal/pelvic rotation
- Reduced coordination in movements (arm swing, heel strike, ability to shift weight forwards/backwards/laterally)
- Soft voice
- Loss of facial expression
Tips & Modifications
Body
- Remember to begin each exercise with feet wide, and proper posture (chin up, straight spine, abdomen tight, pelvis neutral, shoulders over the hips).
- If at any time you feel pain, stop the exercise, re-establish your posture and try the exercise again. If you continue to feel pain, stop or skip the exercise completely - do not continue with repetitions if the exercise continues to cause pain.
- Focus on completion of each repetition and finish exercises with “BIG” posture. Stay sit tall and confident.
- If possible, scoot towards the edge of your chair or wheelchair, and do not lean on chair.
- Focus on exaggerated movements and count loudly.
- Make sure your eyes follow your hands, both in rotation and reaching/stepping exercises.
- Open your hands and extend fingers as much as possible for each repetition.
