Exercise is Medicine. The research is clear, nowhere is this truer than for Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise helps improve the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.
As a starting point, the best choice of exercise is the exercise you will do BUT to get the most out of a PD exercise program, you need to incorporate 5 key exercise characteristics.
GlideTrak is an ideal choice for PD exercise because it combines all 5 key exercise characteristics into a single exercise experience we call PD FIT.
Learn more about GlideTrak PD FIT and the 5 keys to an effective PD exercise program.
There are 3 main pathways in the brain to address neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s.
Change brain chemistry
Change brain efficiency
Change functional pathways
(neuroplasticity)
Exercise is a particularly effective intervention since it has positive effects on all of these pathways. However not all types of exercise are equally effective at driving these changes. This is where GlideTrak PD Fit comes in.
PD FIT is an acronym for Persistent, Dual Tasking, Forced, Intense/Aerobic, and Task Specific, the 5 key characteristics of exercise that optimizes the benefits.
Persistence
Exercise is like medication. Gains are lost when not done ... Read MorePersistence
Exercise is like medication. Gains are lost when not done regularly and consistently. A robust home-based exercise option is an important tool to maintaining a consistent exercise program
Dual Tasking
Complexity in exercise challenges the brain. Repetitive single ... Read MoreDual Tasking
Complexity in exercise challenges the brain.
Repetitive single task exercise like stationary cycling and lap swimming are generally not effective
Forced
Exercise need to be difficult. You need to work harder ... Read MoreForced
Exercise needs to be difficult.You need to work harder and faster than you would normally or what your brain tells you is normal. This helps embed functional gains.
Intense / Aerobic
The neurochemical benefits of exercise areby far the greatest when the exercise ... Read MoreIntense / Aerobic
The neurochemical benefits of exercise areby far the greatest when the exercise is intense, aerobic and done for an extended length of time
Task Specific (Gait Training)
Brains are specific. You need to practice what you want to improve. If you want to ... Read MoreTask Specific (Gait Training)
Brains are specific. You need to practice what you want to improve. If you want to walk faster you need to practice walking faster.
Having a robust home-based exercise option facilitates staying on top of your exercise needs.
GlideTrak is the only suitable Home-Based Body Support Treadmill on the market
| Glidetrak | Standard Treadmill | Motorized Cycle | Standard Exercycle | Walking | Boxing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persistent | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Dual Task | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Forced | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Intense / Aerobic | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| Task Specific | ✔ | ✔ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Exercise for Improved Walking
and Balance in PD
Scientists who study stroke and traumatic brain injury have identified four features of exercise that drive neuroplasticity: intensity, specificity, difficulty and complexity.
To explore whether these findings apply to PD, there are investigations into the effect of exercise in two ways. One study was in mice that had been made Parkinsonian.