Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

 

This is the second in a two-part series bringing awareness to Parkinson’s disease as April is designated as Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

 

SALISBURY — The Parkinson’s Foundation’s website provides a wealth of information, ranging from what the disease is, research, events, support and various other topics for the patient and the caregiver, and during the recent Parkinson’s support group meeting held in April at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center that information was passed along with attendees.

Morgan Gilbert, Parkinson’s Foundation development manager, Carolinas Chapter, provided quite a bit of information including one booklet that she made available titled “Newly Diagnosed Guide.” This booklet from the foundation broke down what it is, early signs, causes and treatment.

Throughout the booklet, it reminds the reader to be sure and work with and talk with your doctor and to remember you are not alone.

Parkinson’s, it said “is a progressive neurological disease that causes a gradual loss of brain cells that produce dopamine.”

It continues by saying that the cause of the disease is “a combination of genes, environment and lifestyle influences.”

A list of early signs of Parkinson’s were included in the booklist. These include tremor, small handwriting, loss of smell, trouble sleeping, trouble moving or walking, constipation, soft or low voice, masked face (less expressive, dizziness or fainting and stooping or hunching over.

In addressing the symptoms and treatment, the booklet encouraged the reader to speak with their doctor, and told in bold lettering that “exercise is essential to managing PD and can slow the progression of many PD symptoms.”

One factor that was stressed not only during the support group meeting, but also through the information that was provided as well as other individuals who are working with Parkinson’s patients, is the importance of exercise and the benefits it provides.

Dr. Brittany Smith, a professor at Catawba College, was at the Parkinson’s Support Group. Having just graduated with her PhD in exercise physiology, she said that she is “interested in how we can use exercise to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms,” which is what she said her work has focused on over the last several years.

Smith said that she teaches about exercise and wants to do more exercise research in the area and with people who have Parkinson’s.

Therefore, she plans to visit the support group meetings and when projects come up, Smith said, “I think this would be a really good group to recruit from and get the word out about the work that we’re doing over at Catawba.”

Smith said that much of her work had been in cycling exercise, focusing on the lower legs and either walking or cycling quickly, but said that “any exercise, either upper body or lower body, will be beneficial.”

Ester H. Marsh, who serves as the associate executive director and director of healthy living at the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, teaches a class called “Box Mix for Stability” on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-9:45 a.m.

She said that they invite people who have “any movement disorder, or anyone who wants to join us. It’s a mixture of Parkinson, stroke, cancer, vertigo, more survivors, family members and regular members.”

Marsh has an extensive background in martial arts and boxing and came up, she said, “with my own plan to teach Box Mix for Stability.”

As of July 5, Marsh will have taught this class for four years, she said, and “they have improved tremendously.”

She began another class last year, which is called “Brain Body and Balance,” and just as the name suggests, that is what they work on during the classes held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2-2:45 p.m.

In working with those dealing with Parkinson’s she said that she has “seen tremendous improvement in stamina, strength, balance and coordination. It’s truly humbling to be part of a group where all I do is give them the exercises and guide them through classes. They are putting in the work and to see the changes in all of them is so very rewarding and heartwarming.”

One of the booklets shared by the foundation during the support group meeting was titled “Fitness Counts, A Body Guide to Parkinson’s Disease,” and it tells at the very beginning that “for people with Parkinson’s disease, exercise is key to a healthy and active life” and added that research has shown to improve motor skills and non-motor symptoms as well, which can include depression, anxiety, fatigue and thinking.

Some of the chapters in the booklet are titled “Why Exercise,” “Professionals Who Provide & Prescribe Exercise” and “What Exercises Should I Do?”

Information about the upcoming Moving Day was shared during the meeting as well. This big event, which was noted, is a community walk and is for the purpose of getting everyone moving and keeping them active. It will be held May 3 in Kernersville and Mary Ann Karriker and Karen Webb, who serve as co-leaders of the local support group, encouraged anyone there interested in attending and participating in the walk to let them know.

Marsh said that exercise is important for anyone, any fitness level and any challenges.

When asked what exercise might be the best, Smith said that “the best exercise for Parkinson’s is going to be the one that you are willing to do. And so if you are willing to walk, walking is a great exercise” and added that cycling can help improve symptoms.

“I would always say any exercise is beneficial, but anything that really gets you moving is going to be the best thing for you,” said Smith.

For more information, visit the Carolinas Chapter website at https://www.parkinson.org/carolinas.