“Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it” – Plato.
In June of 2021, I came to realize how true this statement really is.
Just days after breaking my leg, I saw my PD symptoms worsen. My tremor (which is not normally a huge deal) got a little edgier. I felt the time between PD meds was seemingly longer than normal. I take a low dose of Levodopa 4x/day. I normally rely on a phone app to remind me to take them, but the increased tremor between meds has become a new and super annoying alarm. This, along with increased rigidity, muscle tightness, stiffness, and lack of sleep are all creating a little havoc.
Without being able to do my daily exercise activities, I am at a loss for the natural dopamine boost that these activities provide. Chair exercises and hand weights are fine, but they just don’t provide me with the bursts of cardio that I need to fuel my brain. I am more than halfway through the 7-8 week healing window and I can’t wait until I can bike, row, walk, paddle, hike, etc.
I can honestly say that my own informal study, on the positive effects of exercise on my own PD symptom management, is 100% reliable and valid! If you want some other research to back up my claim, you can read it in the links below.
Exercise is medicine! For real!
Neuroprotective Benefits of Exercise
Aerobic Exercise: Evidence for a Direct Brain Effect to Slow Parkinson Disease Progression
Pondering PD 