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Make Your Move
Allen Dance , diagnosed with REM sleep behavior disorder , a PD risk factor , spending a day with his exercise of choice : cycling .
+ Get in the habit . Pair exercise with an activity you do every day so it naturally becomes a habit . Do balance exercises right after brushing your teeth . Jump on your bike after drinking coffee in the morning . Stretch as soon as you get home from work .
Mood changes : “ I just don ’ t feel like exercising .”
Many people , both with and without Parkinson ’ s , feel down ( depression ) or overly worried ( anxiety ). These mood changes can , in PD , be symptoms of disease or natural emotional responses to living with it . While exercise ( as well as medication and mental health therapy ) can help , it can be harder to work out if you live with mood changes .
Strategies
+ Five-minute rule . Tell yourself you ’ ll work out for five minutes . If you want to stop then , you can . Most of the time you ’ ll keep going once you ’ ve started .
+ Match the mood . Different activities work for different moods and times of day . Vary exercises and
timing to see what works best . A group or intense workout might lift your spirits . Outdoor activities , which increase sun exposure , can boost mood and help sleep . Slower activities , like yoga , tai chi , Pilates or pool exercise , may be calming .
+ Take work out of working out . Set out your exercise clothes and shoes the night before , keep a glass of water on your nightstand so you can hydrate upon waking , or plan to meet a friend so it ’ s harder to make excuses . Start and end each session with a few deep breaths or moments of meditation to set the intention for exercise and tone for the day .
Fatigue : “ I ’ m too tired to exercise .”
Some people with PD feel very tired much of the time . This can happen for many reasons , including trouble sleeping , low blood pressure , medication side effects , vitamin deficiencies or mood changes . Fatigue can also be a symptom of Parkinson ’ s . Researchers don ’ t fully understand why , but living with disease might make your body work harder and use more energy .