Des Plaines man shares value of exercise for living with Parkinson’s

It’s estimated that some 1 million people in the U.S. are currently living with Parkinson’s disease. That means one in every 336 people in the U.S. have PD. You probably know of one or more people who have it.

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s on Feb. 16, 2023, and may have actually had it a few years earlier. It is not a death sentence. It’s said that you die with Parkinson’s, not because of it. Basically it hastens the unfolding of aging symptoms and adds a few others.

The doctor who diagnosed me emphasized that exercise is close to being the only measure that can slow the progression of the disease, which is unstoppable and incurable. Billy Graham, Jimmy Carter, Jesse Jackson and Michael J. Fox either had Parkinson’s or do have it — and either did enjoy or still do enjoy, several years of active life following diagnosis.

I hope my experience with Parkinson’s and exercise will help fellow sufferers and those who love them.

The fundamental truth of the remedy is to keep moving: “Motion is lotion.”

I regularly attend exercise classes at Movement Revolution in Deerfield, which fields a group of personal trainers and specializes in exercises to combat the disease. Systematic boxing is central to the program, and it’s working for me.

The three components of exercise that combat the disease are cardio (or aerobics), strength and balance. Of those, cardio is the most beneficial, according to Eric Johnson, a founder of the Movement Revolution. Parkinson’s steadily attacks endurance, balance and strength. A wide variety of exercises — really limited only by the creativity of personal trainers — can combat all of Parkinson’s physical and even mental symptoms.

My doctor tells me that consistency, or call it sustainability, is vital. Parkinson’s comes at you 24/7, so you need to make exercise minutes count. If you don’t, you can stiffen up or have a type of seizure.

For me, I require at least a half hour of cardio daily, with heart rate of 95 beats per minute, and 100 to 110 is good. I have an Apple watch and find it to be accurate and invaluable. Variety of exercise is important to prevent boredom and stay motivated. I jog laps in my basement — or in the back yard. I ride a road bicycle for miles at a time. Up to a point, intensity is beneficial. I have and use a stationary bicycle both at home and at Movement Revolution.

The challenge is to find the balance point between too much exercise and too little. Too much exercise, in general, will give you more fatigue than Parkinson’s will. Too little exercise and Parkinson’s gains ground on you. But if you suffer a setback, say from general anesthesia, you can — repeat can — fight back with exercise and regain strength and balance. Everyone’s advice is to listen to your body. Is your balance off? You’re wobbling more than usual? Trainers have exercises for that — and the same is true of strength and cardio.

Your social life is important. Spend time with friends. Alfred Adler, a famous psychiatrist and rival of Freud, said feelings of self worth are directly proportional to your social interest.

Yadira Valencia, a physical therapist at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Northbrook, says she daily observes a definite physical improvement in people whose mood is better than someone in lowered feelings. Avoid depression at all costs. Take your medicine as prescribed.

If you have faith in God or other Power, take time to worship. Take time to pray. Your faith and a prayer life can give you hope in a better life, and very likely, relief from the pain.

Deep pressure massages are proven to help, and recommended by doctors. They keep your muscles looser, even as Parkinson’s tries to bend you forward and stiffen you up.

Find a good doctor and ask him or her the hard questions. For example, how strenuous should my exercise regimen be? Does boxing really help? Why so?

In Chicagoland, Northwestern Medical and Rush on the South Side both have excellent neurologists. As you probably know, appointments with the top doctors take months to obtain, and once you see them, the time spans between appointments are lengthy.

What I do about that is to use regularly the myChart portals and send messages to the doctors. Often their nurses respond and they often know the correct answers. If not, they consult the doctors.

This will sound strange, but I actually enjoy the challenge of Parkinson’s disease. I’m not exactly sure why God allows me contract the nasty stuff, but maybe it allows me to help fellow sufferers and that way we all can enjoy life for a few more years.

God bless you and keep moving. As they say around Movement Revolution: Think big, move strong and never quit!

• Dan Brown, of Des Plaines, is a retired freelance construction writer.