Pilates eases some Symptoms of PD

Research:Pilates Eases Some Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is progressive disease that impairs muscles and movement. There are medications that ease the symptoms, but now a new study finds Pilates could also improve stiffness and rigidity caused by the disease.

Pilates is a series of controlled movements in which the muscles are moved inch by inch.

The small movements could make a big difference for people with Parkinson’s disease. "I think you have to stay active if you have Parkinson's,” said Parkinson’s patient Shaughn McGinley. McGinley is among a growing number of Parkinson’s patients who are regularly doing Pilates to improve symptoms of the disease such as tremors, slowness of movement, poor balance and rigidity.

"I knew my body was getting slower and stiffer and didn't have the flexibility that I wanted to have,” said McGinley. In a recent pilot study at the Parkinson Center of the Oregon Health and Science University, researchers said Parkinson’s patients who did twice-weekly classes experienced improvement in rigidity and balance. Some Pilates instructors are now offering classes specifically geared to patients with Parkinson’s disease.

“The breadth of Pilates is quite expansive,” said Pilates instructor Scott Meyers. Scripps Memorial neurologist Dr. Dee Silver said,

“I think any kind of exercise is good which gives your improvement in your balance, improvement in your mobility and reduces the tightness in your muscles and help reduce rigidity and gives you the ability to react better in your environment.” Since McGinley’s diagnosis with Parkinson’s four years ago, she has strived to keep active with Pilates and other physical activities. Experts said Pilates exercises do not strain the body, so it works well for people who don’t exercise at all.

Best regards, Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD