An interview with Nikos Koukoulakis from Parky Lifting on Weight Training for PD on July 7, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
PD patient, athlete, coach at Hellas Team Parkinson Powerlifting, Parky Lifting.
Studied at Athens Medical School.
Studied at Athens University of Physical Education and Sports Science.
Went to 1st Lyceum Kessariani.
Lives in Kaisarianí, Attiki, Greece.
Please tell me a little about your background and what got you involved with awareness.
I still remember the words of my hematologist in 1999 after aggressive chemotherapy, about end-stage blood cancer, with metastases to the colon and bone marrow, (exercise saved your life). This phrase, although I did not understand it, stuck in my mind.
After the chemotherapy treatments, some strange symptoms began that I could not interpret. They had to do with balance and difficulty writing. As a photographer I found it difficult to activate the camera plot. From a good photographer, I had evolved into a useless photographer. “Then comes the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and I lose my job. So, I turned to my young dream of studying gymnastics.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I’ve always worked out mainly with weights and powerlifting. I prepared my first paper with kinetic analysis of standing up for people with Parkinson’s disease. In my master’s degree at the Medical School of Athens, where I won a scholarship in molecular and applied physiology with specialization in exercise therapy, I worked on the effect of exercise on Parkinson’s disease. At the same time, I am a coach of the Greek Special Olympics Powerlifting team. I take part in triathlons, cycling and running races and powerlifting, until I meet the freeze of gait. A lot changed after that.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
During the pandemic I didn’t have access to gyms and absolute disaster came. The disease progressed rapidly, to the point where I could not walk outside the house. I set up my own gym at home since I couldn’t go out. I inform friends with Parkinson’s, and we work out together. Slowly the difficult symptoms begin to subside, not the disease, the disease progresses. There I understand the importance of the muscular system in disease. Due to the difficulty of movements and stiffness I understand that I need more strength to walk, which strength can only be gained by resistance training.
What effect can it have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Weight Training may reduce the symptoms of freeze of gait in Parkinson’s patients.
Parkinson’s disease with freeze of gait Nikolaos Koukoulakis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IkTJ932cNU
What would you like to see as a future goal for your weight training?
I received a message from my friend and Dutchman Ruud Overes that he is preparing for the Parkinson Games to be held in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, and he wants me to carry the flame of the games into the stadium as a torchbearer. I suggest that he put powerlifting in the program of the races.
At the same time, with the world federation word powerlifting and the help of Andreas Koletti (who is also a coach in the special Olympics), Parkinson’s category, where I do the editing of the regulations based on the needs of athletes with Parkinson’s. I managed to create a small but strong group of Parkinson’s patients together with my sister who also has this disease, and we participate in powerlifting competitions.
What events do you participate in?
Triathlons. Weight Training.
In November 2024, the World Table Tennis Games Parkinson’s will take place on the island of Crete in collaboration with the Hellenic Table Tennis Federation and the World Tennis Federation. I undertook to create the team and the Greek federation to coach it. So, we are training for the championship in Crete.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiRiSwUzWX_zieNb-IvVwrA
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Exercise is not an option for people with Parkinson’s. It is mandatory, because it is the only medicine without side effects that can reverse the symptoms of the disease.