An Answer for Parkinson's Disease
By Matt Hedman, President of The Perfect Workout
Due to high-profile cases, the US has become very aware of Parkinson’s Disease in recent decades. Celebrity Michael J. Fox and late icons Muhammad Ali and Johnny Cash are a few of the famous names who were/are inflicted with the disease. In the US, 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed annually.
While Parkinson’s Disease is not terminal, it is significant. It manifests by disrupting physical abilities, causing tremors, postural instability, and slow, rigid movement. Those with the disease suffer from debilitating fatigue, strength loss, and accelerated muscle atrophy.
Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s. With that in mind, science has focused on ways to improve quality of life for those with the disease. Among the proven treatment options is something we know well: strength training. Strength training reverses some of the physical effects of Parkinson’s Disease and can possibly elevate Parkinson’s sufferers to the physical ability of those without the disease.
These results are demonstrated by a few studies, most notably research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In a four-month study, 15 Parkinson’s patients exercised in a full-body strength-training workout three days per week. The routine featured some of the familiar exercises at The Perfect Workout, including the leg press, chest press, and lat pull-down. The researchers measured a number of physiological and functional areas at the start and end of the study.
The strength-training program was successful in reversing a number of areas generally affected by Parkinson’s Disease. The participants improved their strength by at least one-third in all major muscle groups. Muscle size increased, including a 36% improvement for fast-twitch muscle fibers (the fibers most responsible for performing challenging tasks). The trainees were able to walk an additional 140 feet in a six-minute walk test, indicating better endurance, walking speed, and walking ability. Balance on one leg improved by 34%, meaning the people with Parkinson’s were able to stand longer on one leg and were less likely to experience a fall.
What caught my attention the most was the standing test. The standing test in this study measured how many muscle fibers were needed for the Parkinson’s sufferers to stand from a seated position. At the start of the study, standing required a near maximum effort (90% of muscle fibers)! Imagine that: needing nearly all of your strength to stand from a chair.
At the end of the study, only 60% of muscle fibers were used to perform a stand. In other words, standing became much easier. In fact, those with Parkinson’s Disease used the same amount of effort to stand after the training program as people the same age who did not have Parkinson’s!
As a whole, strength training improves strength, muscle tissue, endurance, walking ability, balance, and the effort needed to perform daily activities for those with Parkinson’s. With this in mind, strength training is an excellent option to help stop or reverse the physical and functional effects of Parkinson’s Disease.
When you refer a new client, we give you a FREE BONUS TRAINING SESSION as a token of our appreciation. So please, tell your friends about The Perfect Workout and help us revolutionize the way people workout.
The Perfect Workout Orland Park
64 Orland Square Dr Suite 16,
Orland Park, IL 60462
(630) 622-1031
Due to high-profile cases, the US has become very aware of Parkinson’s Disease in recent decades. Celebrity Michael J. Fox and late icons Muhammad Ali and Johnny Cash are a few of the famous names who were/are inflicted with the disease. In the US, 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed annually.
While Parkinson’s Disease is not terminal, it is significant. It manifests by disrupting physical abilities, causing tremors, postural instability, and slow, rigid movement. Those with the disease suffer from debilitating fatigue, strength loss, and accelerated muscle atrophy.
Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s. With that in mind, science has focused on ways to improve quality of life for those with the disease. Among the proven treatment options is something we know well: strength training. Strength training reverses some of the physical effects of Parkinson’s Disease and can possibly elevate Parkinson’s sufferers to the physical ability of those without the disease.
These results are demonstrated by a few studies, most notably research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In a four-month study, 15 Parkinson’s patients exercised in a full-body strength-training workout three days per week. The routine featured some of the familiar exercises at The Perfect Workout, including the leg press, chest press, and lat pull-down. The researchers measured a number of physiological and functional areas at the start and end of the study.
The strength-training program was successful in reversing a number of areas generally affected by Parkinson’s Disease. The participants improved their strength by at least one-third in all major muscle groups. Muscle size increased, including a 36% improvement for fast-twitch muscle fibers (the fibers most responsible for performing challenging tasks). The trainees were able to walk an additional 140 feet in a six-minute walk test, indicating better endurance, walking speed, and walking ability. Balance on one leg improved by 34%, meaning the people with Parkinson’s were able to stand longer on one leg and were less likely to experience a fall.
What caught my attention the most was the standing test. The standing test in this study measured how many muscle fibers were needed for the Parkinson’s sufferers to stand from a seated position. At the start of the study, standing required a near maximum effort (90% of muscle fibers)! Imagine that: needing nearly all of your strength to stand from a chair.
At the end of the study, only 60% of muscle fibers were used to perform a stand. In other words, standing became much easier. In fact, those with Parkinson’s Disease used the same amount of effort to stand after the training program as people the same age who did not have Parkinson’s!
As a whole, strength training improves strength, muscle tissue, endurance, walking ability, balance, and the effort needed to perform daily activities for those with Parkinson’s. With this in mind, strength training is an excellent option to help stop or reverse the physical and functional effects of Parkinson’s Disease.
When you refer a new client, we give you a FREE BONUS TRAINING SESSION as a token of our appreciation. So please, tell your friends about The Perfect Workout and help us revolutionize the way people workout.
The Perfect Workout Orland Park
64 Orland Square Dr Suite 16,
Orland Park, IL 60462
(630) 622-1031
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