An interview with Elias Reis de Oliveira of the Parkinson’s Association of Minas Gerais, Brazil, July 9, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
– Physical Education Professional
– Specializing in Personal Training for People with Parkinson’s
– Volunteer at the Parkinson’s Association of Minas Gerais, Brazil
– Municipal Guard
Please tell me a little about your background and what got you involved with awareness.
I am Elias Reis de Oliveira, a Physical Education Professional since 2018. My involvement with people with Parkinson’s began with my thesis work – Effects of Music and Dance on a Person with Parkinson’s Disease, a case study. Since then, I have been realizing the difficulty people have in interpreting scientific studies regarding physical activity for individuals with Parkinson’s. The information that could bring beneficial changes was not reaching them.
Can you tell me more about your organization?
I am delighted to be a volunteer at the Parkinson’s Association of Minas Gerais, Brazil – ASPARMIG. As a Physical Education teacher, I assist people with Parkinson’s in achieving their best physical fitness and quality of life through appropriate physical activities. My work involves planning and implementing training programs based on science, aiming for symptom reduction and a healthier life despite Parkinson’s disease.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
My passion is to see hope restored in my students, the confidence to carry out their daily activities without fear of falling or getting hurt. I strongly believe that a cure will come, and I want to ensure they are physically prepared to receive it under favorable conditions.
What type of goals do individuals with Parkinson’s have when working with you?
They seek relief. They feel overwhelmed and look for hope to carry on. But with proper training, they begin to dream again and rejoice in the body’s response.
What effect can your advocacy have on an individual with Parkinson’s awareness?
Firstly, individuals become more informed about their own bodies and the need for planned, structured, and repetitive physical training at an intensity, frequency, and volume that truly allow for physiological adaptations. Secondly, there is evidence of improved mental and physical capacity, a reduction in non-motor symptoms such as depression, insomnia, constipation, as well as motor symptoms including gait disturbances, involuntary movements, and muscular rigidity.
What would you like to see as a future goal for your advocacy?
My dream is to spread the information on how people with Parkinson’s should truly train and how they can, in an accessible way, monitor the intensity and frequency for physical exercise to be truly effective based on the three pillars: Flexibility Training, Strength Training, and Aerobic Endurance Training.
What events do you participate in?
So far, I have only participated in events within the local Association. We are being represented by our president of Asparmig, Janette Franco, at the 6th World Parkinson Congress in Barcelona. We have a booklet of awareness titled “Unveiling Parkinson’s Disease,” illustrated with our mascot called Parkinina – a turtle. Over 100,000 copies have been distributed free of charge.
How does this also assist the caregivers?
Caregivers learn to assist with the basic movements in physical exercises and begin to understand the process of physical training as a procedure that needs to be done in the right measure, like taking medication.
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
You can reach us through the email treinandocomparkinson@gmail.com or by phone at +55 31 985879094 (Brazil).
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson community, what would it be?
As I have noticed, one of the biggest mistakes in physical training for people with Parkinson’s is the frequency. I use this quote: “Training is King, and Consistency is Queen. Those with Parkinson’s cannot afford to stop.”