Author: Kevin Lockette PT
Publisher: Landgon Street Press
ISBN: 978-1934938294

Click Here To Purchase Move It! An Exercise and Movement Guide for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative chronic and progressive disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer's motor skills, speech, and other functions. It is estimated that over one million Americans and approximately six million people worldwide currently live with PD.

Presently, there are no tests available to diagnose PD and thus the sole manner in which it is diagnosed is on the basis of clinical history and findings of a neurological examination. The general primary characteristics of PD are muscle rigidity, tremor, slowing of physical movement and in extreme cases a loss of physical movement. It is believed that the fundamental cause of PD is due to the decreased stimulation of the motor cortex by the basal ganglia, normally pursuant to the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the brain. The secondary symptoms of PD may include a high level cognitive dysfunction and subtle language problems. Although there is no cure for PD at the present moment, the combination of exercise in conjunction with medication, according to Kevin Lockette, author of Move It! An Exercise and Movement Guide for People with Parkinson's Disease and many others is one of the best things that you can do to counteract the negative physical effects of PD.

Inspired by working with people with Parkinson's Disease (PD), Lockette, who is a physical therapist, decided to launch a book and video that would incorporate many of his own methods he has used in his classes and PD support groups that have made a profound difference in the daily lives of the participants. With Move It! An Exercise and Movement Guide for People with Parkinson's Disease and its companion video, Lockette exposes to his readers many non-conventional exercises and techniques that have been found to be quite helpful in aiding people with PD.

In the opening chapter, Dr. Melvin Yee briefly explains what is PD, its cause, demographics, diagnosis, cardinal physical symptoms, and medications. With these explanations in mind, the reader is now prepared to learn the techniques and exercises that Lockette goes onto share with his readers with the objective of assisting the PD patient in combating and/or staving off the various physical symptoms that have been described.

Next, the book launches into an analysis of various movement challenges and what strategies can be employed to contend and battle back against them. Included are tips as to how to deal with “freezing episodes.” Readers are counseled to move consciously and that with patience in order to maintain safe, effective mobility, and stave off or delay many of the physical effects that are prevalent with patients with PD. Fundamental strategies focus on four important behavioral patterns that should be practiced, visualization, planning, sequence (one step at a time) and the completion. Considerable ink is devoted to improving walking, bed mobility, standing, and balance.

A complete chapter is devoted to assistive devices such as canes, walkers, and commercially specialty devices. Lockette does not endorse any one product but only presents some of the options that are available. This is followed by falls and how to minimize them, how to fall, and what can you do once you find yourself on the floor. A very interesting chapter is one dealing with adaptive devices that can make your life easier to deal with. Some of the devices include button aides, sock aides, bath reacher sponge, eating utensils, writing utensils, and meal preparation.

The remainder of the book devotes itself to a variety of invaluable exercises. And according to Lockette, focusing on posture and purposeful movement is the key to an effective exercise program. In fact, recent research has confirmed that exercise does have beneficial effects in patients with PD. What Lockette rightfully points out is that PD “works on a particular area in your brain but does not directly work on your muscles, so your muscles can still have the ability to maintain strength and flexibility if you train them.” These chapters with their illustrations in conjunction with the accompanying video maintain a straight, no-nonsense tone throughout. Lockette has done an excellent job of laying out the information clearly and concisely. An added plus is the very useful appendix that is included of a home assessment checklist that lists problems and solutions such as unable to safely negotiate stairs and the various solutions as installing ramps, rails, etc.

Incidentally, I don't have PD, but I do have a poor posture and I found many of the exercises to be very beneficial. I have tried them at home and at the gym. They do work!