How Personal Training Supports Life with Parkinson’s
A Parkinson’s diagnosis can bring a lot of uncertainty. Changes in movement, balance, strength and confidence can affect how you manage everyday activities, from getting dressed and walking around the house to going out and enjoying the things you have always done.
Exercise can play an important role in managing these changes. Regular, targeted exercise can help maintain strength, balance, mobility and physical fitness, while supporting confidence and independence.
At Longevity Health and Fitness, we provide clinical personal training for people living with Parkinson’s. Our sessions are tailored around the individual, with a focus on helping you move well, maintain your physical abilities and feel more confident in everyday life.
How Parkinson’s can affect everyday movement
Parkinson’s Disease affects the parts of the brain involved in controlling movement. Symptoms can include tremor, stiffness, slower movement (known as bradykinesia), changes in posture and difficulties with balance.
These changes can make everyday movements more difficult. Turning, getting up from a chair, walking through doorways or changing direction can require more thought and effort. Some people may also experience freezing, where the feet temporarily feel as though they are stuck to the floor.
As movement becomes more difficult, it can be tempting to do less. However, becoming less active can lead to a loss of muscle strength and fitness, which can make everyday activities harder.
This is one of the reasons staying active is so important when living with Parkinson’s. The right exercise programme can help you maintain the physical capacity you need for everyday life.
How exercise can support life with Parkinson’s
Exercise is an important part of Parkinson’s management alongside medical care. Research supports the use of regular exercise to help maintain physical function, mobility and quality of life.
A well-designed programme can help to:
- Maintain and improve muscle strength
- Improve balance and mobility
- Support walking ability and movement quality
- Improve cardiovascular fitness and physical endurance
- Support posture and flexibility
- Practise movements that are important for everyday activities
- Support confidence when moving independently
Exercise may also support changes in the brain associated with movement and learning. This includes neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections.
The type, intensity and frequency of exercise all matter. This is where individualised support can make a difference.
Why personal training can be helpful
There is no single exercise programme that works for everyone with Parkinson’s. Symptoms, abilities, medication, fatigue, confidence and goals can all vary between people and from one day to another. Personal training allows exercise to be adapted around these differences. Rather than simply completing a set list of exercises, sessions can focus on the movements and physical qualities that are most relevant to you.
At Longevity Health and Fitness, our exercise sessions incorporate differing types of exercise and may include:
Strength training
Strength exercises help maintain the muscle capacity needed for walking, standing, climbing stairs and other everyday activities. Exercises can be progressed over time as strength and confidence improve.
Balance and stability
Balance exercises can help you practise maintaining control while standing, walking and changing position. We can also work on movements such as turning and getting up from a chair.
Walking and gait
Walking can change with Parkinson’s, including taking smaller steps, moving more slowly or experiencing freezing. Specific exercises can help you practise larger, more deliberate movements and strategies for managing these difficulties.
Dual tasking
Everyday life rarely involves concentrating on just one thing. You might be walking while talking to someone, carrying something or thinking about where you are going. Dual-task exercises combine movement with mental tasks to practise these situations in a safe environment.
Posture and mobility
Parkinson’s can be associated with changes in posture and reduced movement through the body. Exercises that work on posture, mobility and body awareness can help you maintain comfortable and efficient movement.
Exercise should fit around you
Living with Parkinson’s is different for everyone. Your symptoms, energy levels and medication can all influence how you feel on a particular day.
For this reason, sessions need to be flexible. Some days you may be able to do more, while on others the focus may need to be on maintaining movement and completing exercises comfortably.
Our sessions are delivered one-to-one in your home. This allows us to create an environment where you feel comfortable and can focus on your movement without feeling rushed or under pressure.
We also regularly review progress and adapt your programme as your needs change.
Supporting more than what happens in a session
The aim of personal training is not simply to have a good session once or twice a week. We want the benefits of exercise to carry over into the rest of your week.
That might mean helping you feel more confident getting up from a chair, practising strategies for turning, maintaining your strength for walking, or understanding how to manage your activity when you are having a more difficult day.
For us, this is an important part of living with Parkinson’s. We want you to have the knowledge and confidence to use movement outside of our sessions as well.
Building confidence alongside strength
Physical changes are only one part of life with Parkinson’s. Losing confidence in your ability to move can sometimes lead to avoiding activities that you enjoy.
Regular, supported exercise can help rebuild that confidence. As you practise movements and see what your body is capable of, everyday activities can start to feel more manageable.
This could be anything from walking to the shops and using public transport to getting back to gardening, travelling or spending time with family and friends.
Progress does not always mean lifting heavier weights or walking further. Sometimes it is being able to do something that has become difficult, with less hesitation or more confidence.
Staying active for the long term
Living with Parkinson’s is an ongoing process, and exercise needs to adapt alongside you. The goal is not to chase a particular fitness level or compare yourself with anyone else. It is about maintaining the physical abilities that help you live the life you want to live.
At Longevity Health and Fitness, we combine exercise physiology with individualised personal training to help people living with Parkinson’s stay active, maintain their independence and feel more confident in their movement.
If you or someone you know is living with Parkinson’s and would like support with exercise, get in touch with us today to arrange a consultation. We can discuss where you are currently, what you’d like to improve and how exercise could fit into your life.
