Aging In The Willamette Valley

This week we talked with Mike Struder PT, and Former President of Northwest Rehabilitation Associates. He discussed the effects of exercise on Parkinson’s disease. Mike shared his knowledge of the impact of exercise on Parkinson's Disease and how it can be "disease-modifying". Physical therapists prescribe complete plans that are individualized to the subtype or phenotype of PD - it is not a "one-size-fits-all." Programs, such as boxing, cycling, and Tai Chi can be helpful due to the socialization, intensity, and sense that you are doing something healthy and beneficial for yourself. This causes the release of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic factors, which can improve PD symptoms.