Parkinson's Program
Exercise Class
Movers and Shakers, that's what it says on the t-shirts! And indeed they do move and they do shake. They're the people in our Parkinson's class. This class has been running for ten years and has been serving people with Parkinson Disease from all over the Portland area. They come, they try it and they stay.

 

Our class was started with a grant from Oregon Health Sciences University, a medical school and university that has a research center in Parkinson research. From this auspicious start with help from physical therapists, we have grown and continue to serve our population of mover's and shakers.

 

Parkinson Disease is a neuromuscular disease. It can cause the gait to shorten, the arms not to swing with the stride, the balance can be effected and the face can have a mask like affect from muscular rigidity. The disease can cause swallowing difficulties, the voice can lose it's ability to project and overall coordination can become difficult. In our class we use every exercise with the idea of combating one or more of these symptoms. And at the same time, everyone has a good time and becomes a good friend.

 

The class meets three mornings a week and lasts an hour and fifteen minutes. How we work! Before class finds participants sitting on the couches, catching up with each other while staff notes down pulse rates. As class begins, the doors open and we move on into a large room where we warm up together. Upbeat music is the accompaniment. Walking, arms pulling imaginary ropes, legs dancing and jumping. A few stretches at the bar ends this first 15 minute time. We move on to the indoor track; a few people prefer the stationary bikes beside the track. The track finds people visiting again; spouses join all of the class if they wish – and some particularly enjoy the time on the track, sharing with one another. After the 30 minute walk  where many of the group walk a mile, we go back to our large room and do some more serious stretches both at the bar and on the floor. The reward at the end: the music is changed from up-beat to soft and soothing, the lights are dimmed and we are all put through a quiet turn of relaxation.

 

Once a month we have a pot-luck after class; a lunchtime that everyone enjoys. Friendships are built between all of the participants and the spouses; sharing talk, on the track, at the pot-lucks, before and after class. The Y keeps a current roster so that everyone may be in touch by phone. We celebrate birthdays with a card and a happy birthday song.

 

On a more serious note, one of our student interns wrote her master's thesis on using walking sticks. The class has four pair of walking sticks available for participants. Walking sticks are used to bolster the aerobic part of the workout by encouraging the walker to swing the arms while walking. Another way that we have used the walking sticks is like a train. The first walker holds one end of the walking stick while the other participant holds the other end. The first walker, the primary exerciser sets the pace, the person behind helps the first person remember to swing the arms by pushing the sticks a little opposite the stepping out leg.

 

The class presently has 27 participants 50 to 80 years old. There are 2 staff and a volunteer at each class. There are also several interns who participate on a regular basis. Occasionally there is a field trip.

 

People with Parkinson Disease have many issues ahead of them, and having others there working at keeping fit, keeping stretched and keeping walking makes the time and effort all the more positive. even while they're moving and shaking they’re all laughing together.

 

For more information contact us at 503.294.3366, Contact Us.