Health
Weightlifting exercises, when practiced for at least two years in a row, significantly improve the condition of people suffering from Parkinson's disease. In particular, it is about relieving symptoms related to motor skills and motor function in general. It is reported that other physical activities, such as stretching exercises and exercises that require good balance, are also useful, but the effect is not so noticeable. This conclusion was made by scientists after studying the results of a study that involved 48 patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.
In this study, study participants were required to engage in various physical exercises on a regular basis for two years, the nature of which for each patient was randomly distributed by scientists. Some participants received a set of exercises aimed mainly at improving stretching; others got a fitness program; and others got exercises related to lifting weights. Each participant in the experiment worked hard for an hour a day, twice a week, for two consecutive years. The severity of symptoms in patients associated with motor impairment (including tremors — tremors in the arms, head, etc.) was measured using a special Parkinson's Universal Assessment Scale ( Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale). The measurements were taken six months after the start of training, 18 and 24 months later. For the sake of purity of the experiment, the severity of symptoms on this scale was analyzed when patients did not take medication.
“Although we knew that various types of exercise performed for a short period of time can have a positive impact on the health of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, we We were not sure whether these exercises could significantly improve motor functions after prolonged use, “said Daniel Corcos, author of the study from Illinois University of Illinois, Chicago, United States of America. As it turned out, all types of exercise can improve motor skills if they are performed within six months. However, patients who practiced weight lifting exercises scored best on the Parkinson's Universal Assessment Scale. At the same time, the score of those patients who engaged in other physical exercises returned to the levels recorded at the very beginning two years experiment. “The results of our study suggest that long-term exercise related to weight lifting can be considered by both doctors and patients as an important component in the fight with Parkinson's disease,” Daniel Corcos summed up.