Train Your Brain, Change Your Life!

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Our mission during this time is to educate and inform on the role of intensive, regular exercise in managing not only Parkinson's, but other neurological disorders as well. Exercise, exercise, exercise! It's all the talk these days in neurological treatment, but how much exercise and what kind? Stay tuned, because you're about to find out! 
  ​  Have you ever heard the term neuroplasticity? Neuro what?! Neuroplasticity is a term that means the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections, roadways in your brain, to maintain and improve body function. A growing body of research is emerging on the benefits of specific exercise interventions for people with Parkinson's, MS, Huntington disease, and even Alzheimer's. In fact, exercise has been shown to IMPROVE functional abilities at a time when someone was expected to DECLINE due to their "progressive" disorder.
​​​Did you know that since your brain is “plastic”....

​Did you know that since your brain is “plastic”, you can CHANGE it for the BETTER or make it WORSE with the activities you do, or don’t do? Our brain is like a computer that filters through billions and billions of data it receives to determine what it’s output will be. For example, if we have a stroke, and then proceed to stop using one side of our body, our brain will compute that it no longer needs that side of the body. Unless we feed our brain new data, by intensively using our stroke-affected side of the body, that side will no longer work correctly. If we continue to use that side, through intensive exercise or activities guided by a physical therapist, and feed our brain updated movement and sensory data, our brain will read that “software” and determine it in fact does still need to program use for that side of our body.

But what if my physical therapist or doctor, or worse, my insurance, says I’ve maxed out my therapy or healing potential? I should accept that right? WRONG!! See the last paragraph for an explanation. Your brain has the ability to continue to change it’s output throughout your life. When there is damage to the hardware (your BRAIN), we have to work a little harder at feeding it new software (our intentional movements and actions) to repair the hardware.

Here at Geymer Physical Therapy and Wellness, we provide a comprehensive neuroplasticity-principled program that integrates the latest and greatest research on neurological disorders and rehabilitation, exercise and lifelong wellness. Our goal is to counteract inactivity, motor decline and typical and non-typical symptoms of neurological disease, including but not limited to PD, MS, stroke, brain injury, balance and dizziness and Alzheimer’s.

Our methods include a comprehensive examination at start of therapy or group membership, one-on-one skilled training as needed, group FUN, progressive, intensive, aerobic exercise, support groups, VOICE groups, assessment of home environment as indicated and online check-ins as needed. We have found that even people at Stage 5 of Parkinson’s Disease, have been able to show improvement in their overall mobility and quality of life.
Exercise has also been proven to be neuroprotective, meaning that exercise can prevent neurons in your brain from dying. This means that people should be referred to a neurological physical therapist as soon as they are diagnosed so that a baseline of functional mobility can be established and they can be started on the CORRECT exercise plan right away. This ensures that neuroprotection begins as soon as it is confirmed they have the disease and prevent as much nerve breakdown as possible. It is recommended that people with a neurodegenerative disease have a primary physical therapist that they see on a regular basis in order to promote lifelong positive neuroplasticity and make any tune-ups as needed or to recommend equipment needs or other skilled professionals down the road. Ideally, at minimum, you should see your physical therapist at least every 6 months.

Exercise prescription should always be guided by a physical therapist who is an expert in these conditions. There are a number of factors to consider when prescribing exercise to a person with a neurodegenerative disorder. The key components include intensity, challenge (both physical and cognitive), frequency, duration, repetition, amplitude and skills training. While it is perfectly okay to exercise on your own or with a personal trainer, it is of significant importance that those exercise plans are in consultation with a neurological physical therapist. It has been found that people with these particular diagnoses are not in tune with the true severity of their deficits. At minimum, one should be exercising 2.5 hours/week, or 30 minutes 5 days/week for optimal benefit. Skills training refers to task specific training such as transfers or working on your walking in an environment that would be similar to your home or the community. It could also mean working on dual task training, doing two things at once (like walking and chewing gum), that oftentimes is much more difficult when someone has a neurological disorder.
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Do you have a primary physical therapist? Have you started a regular exercise plan? Does it meet all of the important requirements? Not sure? Ready to get started? Give us a call and speak with one of our experts. Better yet, come check out a class and start Training Your Brain, so you can Change Your Life!