May 30, 2016 (Started Aug 01, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Improve mobility)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for General health)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for slow movement (bradykinesia))
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for balance problems)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for increased energy)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (fatigue, muscle strain, muscle soreness)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: As needed
Advice & Tips: As of Sept 1, 2010, I am lumping walking together with the other aerobic exercise I do - running, exercise bike, elliptical. If you're having trouble walking, you're likely to walk less. If you fear walking by yourself, you're likely to walk less. So your walking will get worse, you'll have more trouble with it, and you'll walk less. You can end up in a downward spiral. So you've got to break the cycle. There are several ways to do it. Many people who freeze while walking can still walk on a treadmill. And you can always hold on to the rails while walking on it. So practicing walking on a treadmill can help. If you don't have access to a treadmill, you can try walking stairs (if you are one of those who doesn't have a problem with stairs). Always hold on to the rails when you do stairs, however. If you don't have stairs, or can't do them, there are two other things you can try. You can clear a space in your house or on your driveway, and put obstacles on it to step over. Most PWP find that even if they have trouble walking, it's usually easier if they step over something. The "something" can be shoes, rolled-up newspapers, blocks, pieces of wood. Walk back and forth, stepping over the obstacles. Try varying the distance between the obstacles. Once you have been walking over them for five or ten minutes, you'll usually find it easier to walk and may be able to walk short distances without the obstacles. Another thing you can do is to get a walker (a rollator), and practice walking using it (in a mall, on your driveway, around your neighborhood on the sidewalk).
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: muscle soreness, muscle strain, fatigue

Oct 17, 2009 (Started Aug 01, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Improve mobility)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for General health)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for slow movement (bradykinesia))
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for balance problems)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (fatigue, muscle strain, muscle soreness)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: Daily
Advice & Tips: Walking can be either standard walking or racewalking. The latter is more strenuous than jogging at the same speed, but without the pounding of running or jogging. Once you're in good shape, it's a nice change to try racewalking for a few hundred yards in the middle of a walking workout. It also helps your speed, which is probably something all of us Parkinson's patients could use.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: muscle soreness, muscle strain, fatigue

Aug 23, 2009 (Started Aug 01, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for General health)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Improve mobility)
  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for Parkinson's disease)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for balance problems)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (fatigue, muscle strain, muscle soreness)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: Daily
Advice & Tips: Treatments and drugs can interact with each other. In my case, there was a positive interaction with walking, Mirapex, and Azilect. See "About Me" in my profile. In late 2008, when I walked fast for several minutes (during exercise) I often tended to freeze, and would have to stop walking. A few months later, when I started to freeze I would be able to continue walking, just slower for a few minutes, and then resume. By Oct of 2009 even if I started to freeze while running fast, I would be able to slow down (still running) and keep from freezing. I believe that pushing yourself - hard - on a regular basis (once a week or so) can help alleviate your symptoms and improve you functioning.
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: muscle soreness, muscle strain, fatigue

Aug 16, 2009 (Started Aug 01, 2007)

  • Effectiveness
    Major (for Improve mobility)
  • Effectiveness
    Major (for General health)
  • Effectiveness
    Can't tell (for Parkinson's disease)
  • Effectiveness
    Moderate (for balance problems)
  • Side effects
    Mild (for Overall) (fatigue, muscle strain, muscle soreness)
  • Adherence
    Usually
  • Burden
    A little hard to take
Dosage: Daily
Cost: < $25 monthly
Side effects: muscle soreness, muscle strain, fatigue

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