I have Parkinson’s disease (PD). I do not let it run my life. I will fight it, and I will never give up. If you are reading this, I suspect you, or someone you know, has PD. Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological disease with no known cure. The question becomes, can the progression be slowed down? The answer is possibly, which is far better than NO! Dealing with Parkinson’s over the past ten years, I have learned that there have been research studies regarding neuroplasticity and exercise. In layman’s terms, exercise helps the brain do some rewiring. For some individuals, working out regularly may result in the progression of PD being slowed to a crawl. I was diagnosed at Stage 2 in 2015. In January of 2025, my neurologist, Dr. Ashvini Premkumar, determined that I was at Stage 2.5 and encouraged me to continue exercising. Understand that the medical profession currently recognizes five stages of PD. http://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/What-is-Parkinsons/Stages-of-Parkinsons Parkies have learned that the role exercise plays in fighting Parkinson’s disease is significant and has a major impact on quality o In the June 2009 issue of the European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, M.A. Hirsch and B.G. Farley stated that “The results of these studies are beginning to corroborate earlier studies on the importance of exercise intensity in PD and suggest that PD patients without specific contraindications should be encouraged to begin exercise training programs that focus on achieving a higher training intensity, beyond what they may self-select.”
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4183/ec20be755baed6112019aeee6672fc8f7fe6.pdf
What does that mean? It means FORCED exercise. As in push yourself, HARD. So, you don’t believe me? Fine. Then believe Dr. Monique Giroux who writes on page 72 of her book Optimal Health with Parkinson’s Disease that “Increasing interest surrounds the concept of forced exercise as an ideal exercise for PD. This is based on research observations that high-intensity aerobic exercise designed to increase maximum heart rate improves motor symptoms of PD. Forced exercise, defined as an exercise 30% greater effort and/or speed than the natural pace for an individual, results in even greater improvement when compared to exercise at the individual’s more natural preferred rate.” Pop a sweat people.
Not so long ago a television commercial ran that offered “A body in motion, tends to stay in motion, while a body at rest, tends to stay at rest.” So profound! Many people with PD experience stiffness. Many of us with PD are also at the age where arthritis has become an additional burden. So with either condition, do yourself a favor, get up and move! Exercise programs proven to help people with Parkinson’s include hiking, yoga, biking, tai chi, dancing, and boxing at least three times per week for 90 minutes per session. None of these exercise regimens are gender specific. I have encountered many female boxers over the past decade. Let’s face it, everyone from time to time has felt the need to punch something. Men are using yoga to stretch and improve balance. There is a male Israeli economist, Dr. Rafi Eldor who has literally danced away his PD symptoms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cBYGh2E6t4&t=308s
The stage you are at also has an impact on the types of exercises you should have in your workout regimen. Balance exercises become more important as the disease progresses. Learning how to fall and not break yourself is an important skill to master as well. So, what are you waiting for? https://www.healthline.com/health/parkinsons/parkinsons-exercises
When I went to Indianapolis for RSB Coach training, I witnessed diagnosed Stage 3 and 4 PD patients exercising and smiling! So yes, there are also exercises you can do while seated in a chair. No excuses, get going!
Personally, I am a big fan of Rock Steady Boxing (RSB). https://rocksteadyboxing.org/
A hard thrown punch is a great example of forced unnatural movement. I have been an RSB Coach since 2016 and have managed to get programs up and running at multiple gyms. RSB Programs are now in hundreds of locations coast to coast, which is a good thing since 1 in 500 people in the US will be diagnosed with PD.
Legal disclaimer follows: remember that before you start an exercise program, see your doctor who can assess and determine whether or not you are able to do so and at what level of intensity.
About the author: Ron Thomas is a retired college professor who lives with his wife Jill on an 8.5 acre hobby farm in northeastern Illinois near the border with Wisconsin. His father also had Parkinson’s disease.