Living With Parkinson’s Disease

Staying active can help patients manage this progressive neurological disorder

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder. But, as several research studies have shown, one the best ways to fight the progression of the disease is to get yourself moving.

“Physical activity is so important,” explains Jill Trumble, MD, a neurologist in St. Joseph's/Candler Physician Network – Neurology and the Neurology Medical Director for the St. Joseph's/Candler Movement Disorders Program. “It has shown in clinical trials to slow the progression of Parkinson’s.”

Exercise can also help improve mood and general wellness, which are huge factors in a patient’s quality of life.

“If my patients stay active, they feel better,” Dr. Trumble says.

What is Parkinson’s?

There is actually a category of neurological diseases called Parkinsonism, of which Parkinson’s disease is the most common and well known. Both terms arose from the English physician James Parkinson, who first published details of the disease in 1817. Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressing, degenerative disorder that occurs due to the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Dopamine has several functions in the brain, including feelings of motivation and pleasure. It also affects memory and movement. Smooth and coordinated muscle movement is achieved with the help of dopamine.

The cause of the loss of these cells is not known, and currently there is no cure for the disease. It may appear in younger people, but usually affects people later in life. About 1 million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, with approximately 60,000 people diagnosed each year.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s can include:

• Tremor or trembling of the arms, jaw, legs and face
• Stiffness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk
• Slowness of movement (known as bradykinesia)
• Impaired balance and coordination

“When symptoms first show up, that means more than 50 percent of the brain cells that make dopamine have been killed off,” Dr. Trumble explains. “The remaining 50 percent will continue to die off as the disease progresses.”

But Dr. Trumble is quick to remind her patients that Parkinson’s disease is a disorder that a person dies with, not from. Physical activity, medication and physical therapy can significantly improve symptoms and make this disease one that you can successfully manage.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can sometimes appear to be other health issues or signs of aging, making it difficult to diagnose early. Your doctor may want to watch those symptoms over time to confirm a suspicion of Parkinson’s disease.

There are currently no lab or blood tests used to diagnose Parkinson’s. Imaging services such as a CT scan or MRI may be done to rule out other conditions. But for the most part, a Parkinson’s diagnosis is based on the patient’s medical history and a neurological exam.

Parkinson’s disease does not affect all patients in the same way, so treatment is based on a variety of factors, including how much the disease is affecting your current physical activities and your reaction to the medications used to treat the disease.

“Tremor is present in about 70 percent of patients,” Dr. Trumble says. “But other patients have different symptoms. Some will come to me because they are walking and moving slower, or they may have just noticed that their handwriting has become smaller.”

Choose Your Moves

People with Parkinson’s disease who intend to begin or expand their exercise routine should discuss it with their neurologist and primary care physician first. Then comes the fun part: trying the various activities that can benefit you. These include:

• Aerobic exercise: cycling or using an exercise bike, walking, using a treadmill, swimming
• Yoga: all of that stretching helps with stiffness
• Tai Chi: a slow, peaceful exercise derived from Chinese martial arts, this exercise benefits a person’s core and balance
• Boxing with a bag: routinely punching a boxing bag has been shown to be so beneficial for muscle strength, balance and agility that there are now workouts tailored for patients with Parkinson’s

Dr. Trumble has seen some of her most reluctant patients coming around to a more active lifestyle.

“It does take encouragement, because some people don’t like exercise,” she says. “But once they see the improvement, then they start to get into it.”

Movement Disorders Program

St. Joseph’s/Candler has a program dedicated to providing the highest quality care and resources to patients with any type of movement disorder, including Parkinson’s disease. The Movement Disorders Program is designed to help patients and caregivers through diagnosis and treatment, helping them to access an integrated team of medical staff, certified balance physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and public health professionals.

To learn more, contact the program’s Outreach Coordinator Katy Harne at 912-819-2224 (office) or 912-663-6803 (cell) or via email at harneka@sjchs.org.