Dont forget about corrective exercise

There are many positive benefits a person receives from exercise. However, each person young or old with Parkinson’s or without Parkinson’s needs to make sure the exercise is reaping more rewards than risks. How do we assess this? Overuse is a common injury for anyone who is active on a regular basis. This is why strength programs are designed to target specific muscle groups each day with enough time off in between to allow for recovery. You want to make sure you are exercising to relieve Parkinson’s symptoms without increasing your risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Musculoskeletal injuries and pain are quite prominent in the elderly population and this is many times exacerbated by Parkinson’s. There are days when I am working with my clients where the disease is not the concern but rather the plantar fasciitis or the tight hips resulting in sciatic pain. This doesn’t mean you need to take time off from exercise but if you are experiencing pain from overuse, frozen shoulder, and or lower back sciatic pain make sure to be vocal so the proper recovery program can be implemented. Many times these pain areas are due to poor posture, asymmetric gait patterns, or limited trunk flexibility. For example, stooped posture can lead to weak glutes. It doesn’t matter how many glute strengthening exercises you do if you continue to walk with the stooped posture. Corrective exercise and motor control go hand in hand otherwise you may find yourself constantly chasing your tail.

-Darbe Schlosser