Different Article, Same Story. Intensity Wins!

The New York Times published an article in 2017 discussing how different types of exercise had varying effects specifically on the progression of the disease.  The study (from JAMA Neurology) cited showed that very intense treadmill exercise by people with Parkinson's reduced the progression of the disease while people that performed gentle exercise did not seem to be able to delay the disease progression.

Researchers in the study pointed out that starting this intense exercise very early in the progression could greatly delay the need for medications.  The goal there being that the medications lose their effectiveness over time. 

This study treated exercise as a drug and carefully prescribed and tracked the dose of the "medication" ie exercise and the patient's response.  The group that worked out intensely showed little to no decline during the trial (6-mo) versus the other groups (less intense exercise) that showed decline.

As always, speak with your neurologist and physical therapist before starting high-intensity exercise.  As long as it is safe, regular high-intensity exercise appears to be one of the single best things you can do for reducing symptoms related to PD.

FULL ARTICLE HERE