Parkinson’s is a disease that causes the progressive decline of physical and cognitive function, but recent research suggests that regular exercise may impede the disease’s progression.
Eric Breitenbeck, wellness coordinator with MFit, has witnessed how beneficial exercise can be for those with Parkinson’s. He has seen people with various stages of the disease improve joint mobility, posture, coordination and balance.
“We see an increased ability among clients who regularly exercise to do things that they had not been able to do independently, like going up and down a flight of stairs or getting into a car,” Breitenbeck says. “Getting into a habit of physical activity certainly has long-term benefits.”
There are two programs that MFit offers to accommodate individual needs and specific conditions. One is FitScript — a medically based and supervised program that devises an individualized exercise regimen for clients who have specific health conditions. The other is a personal training service that gives clients the opportunity to independently work with a fitness expert.
Personal trainers work with individuals to set up goals at each training session; if a patient uses a walker, for example, the client is urged not to use it during the appointment.
Dean Millard, an 84-year-old Ann Arbor resident and FitScript client for five years, works with Breitenbeck two to three times a week. As soon as Millard walks through the fitness center’s doors, he puts aside his walker, which he uses in everyday life. Breitenbeck then leads Millard through various exercises using equipment such as benches and weight machines.
“I know that exercise has delayed the progression of my Parkinson’s, and I know that I have become stronger. That is why I keep coming back,” Millard says of the FitScript program.
