Parkinson’s Specific Exercise

In the last few years the importance of exercise has become even more significant for people with Parkinson’s. Research is showing that a tailored Parkinson’s specific exercise programme is important for your health. This means that alongside medication and therapies, the right kind of exercise can improve your overall physical ability, your symptoms and the quality of your life.

Exercise Video Gallery

Parkinson’s Specific Exercise Guidelines

women showing an exercise
  • Walk yourself through each exercise first to make sure you understand the movement or watch the video clips for a demonstration. Keep your movements controlled and focused as you slowly build up your effort level.
  • If you have had an injury in the past or have one now, bear this in mind when you start with each new exercise and modify accordingly.
  • When working your way through the exercises, be mindful of your capacity, not your confidence to maintain balance through some of the more challenging activities. Always aim to exercise with a wall or table on one side with the sturdy chair on the other, just in case you do lose your balance. Having a buddy with you is also a great way to have some additional support.
  • When following a neuroplastic exercise programme, the focus is about quality of movement, not just quantity, so don’t fall into the trap of just going through the motions. Once you are up to speed with the choreography, make each repetition count.
  • Be sure to tailor the exercise to your needs; stage of Parkinson’s and type of Parkinson’s. The way you do the exercise will be slightly different to the next person and it is these nuances that can take the exercise you do from good to great!
  • Once you get started with the first exercise, try to keep doing and building on your exercises every day. Perhaps commit to a time frame of 6, 8 or 10 weeks. You will need long enough to build strong exercise habits and routines. Frequency and intensity are essential components for driving the re-wiring that occurs in your brain to improve your movements.
  • It is recommended that when you are fully confident with the exercises, you are doing between 3 to 5 exercises each day. Aim for 3 sets of each exercise and 12 ‘good’ repetitions of each set.