Videos Of People With Parkinsons

Welcome To Apdas Educational Video Library

At APDA we work tirelessly to help support everyone impacted by Parkinsons disease. Education is key to understanding a diagnosis, knowing your treatment options, and learning how to best navigate life with PD. We have compiled this library of educational videos to make it easy for you to view the latest and most credible information. Click below to view videos about the impact of exercise on PD, the latest in PD research, and more! We encourage you to SHARE this page with your loved ones. Dont miss upcoming webinars, online fitness classes and other great programs! Visit our Virtual Events Calendar to see whats coming up next!

Dr. Gilbert Hosts: Q& A Sessions with Experts

Enjoy A Game Of Scrabble

Board games are often designed to stimulate the mind, and Scrabble is especially good for seniors with Parkinsons disease. Some seniors with Parkinsons face difficulty with communication, and your loved one may experience memory lapses that make it challenging to remember words. Your loved one will use vocabulary skills to come up with words using the tiles in his or her tray, which may help with retaining verbal abilities.

Many seniors in the early stages of Parkinsons are able to live on their own, but they may need a bit of help with the everyday tasks of life, such as exercising and preparing nutritious meals. Aging adults who require assistance with the tasks of daily living can benefit from reliable senior home care. Chandler, AZ, families trust Home Care Assistance to provide the high-quality care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. Our caregivers are trained to help seniors prevent and manage serious illnesses and encourage them to make healthier decisions as they age.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinsons disease occurs when brain cells that make dopamine, a chemical that coordinates movement, stop working or die. Because PD can cause tremor, slowness, stiffness, and walking and balance problems, it is called a movement disorder. But constipation, depression, memory problems and other non-movement symptoms also can be part of Parkinsons. PD is a lifelong and progressive disease, which means that symptoms slowly worsen over time.

The experience of living with Parkinson’s over the course of a lifetime is unique to each person. As symptoms and progression vary from person to person, neither you nor your doctor can predict which symptoms you will get, when you will get them or how severe they will be. Even though broad paths of similarity are observed among individuals with PD as the disease progresses, there is no guarantee you will experience what you see in others.

Estimates suggest that Parkinsons affects nearly 1 million people in the United States and more than 6 million people worldwide.

For an in-depth guide to navigating Parkinsons disease and living well as the disease progresses, check out our Parkinsons 360 toolkit.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Dr. Rachel Dolhun, a movement disorder specialist and vice president of medical communications at The Michael J. Fox Foundation, breaks down the basics of Parkinson’s.

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Chess And Other Strategy Games

Classic strategy games, such as chess and checkers, help seniors continue to strengthen their reasoning skills. Your loved one will also need to use his or her memory to recall the rules of the game and any strategies he or she used successfully in the past. Seniors may also need to move their arms across the midlines of their bodies when they move the pieces, which further strengthens communication between the two sides of the brain.

A professional caregiver can be a wonderful game-playing partner for a senior with Parkinsons. If your elderly loved one is living with a serious medical condition and needs help managing the tasks of daily living, reach out to Home Care Assistance, ahomecare servicesagencyyou can trust. Our caregivers are available 24/7, there are no hidden fees in our contracts, and we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our in-home care services.

Computer Games Help People With Parkinsons Disease

Playing computer-based physical therapy games can help people with Parkinsons disease improve their gait and balance, according to a new pilot study led by the UCSF School of Nursing and Red Hill Studios, a California gaming software developer.

More than half the subjects in the three-month research project showed small improvements in walking speed, balance and stride length.

UCSF and Red Hill were the first research team in the United States to receive federal funding in the burgeoning field of low-cost computerized physical therapy games. Unlike off-the-shelf computer games, these specialized games encourage scientifically tested specific physical movements to help people with functional impairments and diseases.

Teams at Red Hill and UCSF collaborated to produce nine clinically inspired games that were designed to improve coordination in people with Parkinsons disease, a chronic, progressive neuromuscular disease characterized by shaking, slowness of movement, limb and trunk rigidity. The clinical team members at UCSF focused on specific body movements and gestures that their previous research had shown to be beneficial for staving off the physical declines of Parkinsons.

The Red Hill team then designed physical games, similar to Wii and Kinect games, in which subjects win points by moving their bodies in certain ways. Each game has multiple difficulty levels so that the clinical team could customize the therapeutic games for each subjects particular abilities.

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Bathing With Parkinsons Disease

• Use a shower chair if necessary.
• Use a hand-held hose for showering and bathing.
• Use a long-handled sponge or scrubbing brush.
• Use soap-on-a-rope, bath mitts, or sponges with soap inside or a soft soap applicator instead of bar soap.
• Use lukewarm water, as very hot water can cause fatigue.
• Sew straps on towels to make them easier to hold while drying.
• Place a non-skid rug on the floor outside the tub to dry your feet so you dont slip.
• Put a towel on the back of your chair and rub your back against it to dry. Or, use a terry cloth robe instead of a towel to dry off.

Ideal Brain Games For An Aging Loved One With Parkinsons

By Pete Lane 9 am on November 18, 2019

The changes that occur with Parkinsons disease arent always physical. While your senior loved one may face difficulty with things such as muscle tremors, you should also know the disease affects the way he or she thinks. Foggy thinking, memory loss, and general confusion are all common cognitive symptoms that can occur with Parkinsons. These six brain games are fun for you to enjoy together, and they can help your loved one retain cognitive functioning.

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I Love To Exercise So Its Easy For Me To Go To Class

Cathy Orr, area development manager at Parkinsons UK said: It is well understood that if people can keep active it can significantly improve functional capacity, fitness and quality of life as well as reducing the risk of ill health, deterioration of the condition, risk of falling and even acute hospital admissions whilst also helping to manage symptoms.

Research has shown that long-term fitness routines have improved the coordination and motor capabilities of those with Parkinsons disease as well as improved their mental health.

Pam from Inverness, who has been taking part in classes said: Without exercise, I dont know where Id be because I get very, very stiff and I dont like sitting down very much I like doing things and Im on the go all the time and I think that helps.

I love to exercise, so its easy for me to go to class. There is a variety of things they do and I enjoy the company and being with the others in the group.

Apart from the social side of things, its always good to meet up with other people with Parkinsons. You find out all sorts of things when you are talking to people but online is also good because you dont need to go in your car and go anywhere.

To find out where your nearest class or how to access online classes

Driving And Parkinsons Disease

The ability to drive safely can be impaired by PD, as the disease has multiple effects on motor, cognitive , and visual functioning. However, giving up driving can be difficult, as driving is connected to an individuals sense of independence, personal control and self-reliance. Its important to evaluate how the symptoms of PD might be impairing the ability to drive. Drivers can also get an on-road assessment of their abilities at their local Department of Motor Vehicles.

Also Check: What Is The Difference Between Essential Tremor And Parkinson Disease

Fantastic Brain Games For Aging Adults Who Have Parkinsons

By Ted Holmgren 9 am on August 12, 2019

Playing brain games is a great way to keep seniors busy throughout the day, and it offers particular benefits for aging adults with Parkinsons disease. Over time, Parkinsons disease causes changes in the brain that affect the ability to move easily and think clearly. Doing activities that stimulate neural communication within the brain may slow down the pace and severity of these changes. These five brain games are perfect for preserving your senior loved ones abilities and having fun at the same time.

Parkinsons On The Move

Publisher: Parkinsons On The Move

Cost: Free

Thirty-one archived workouts for those with Parkinsons. Videos are sortable by level of difficulty, area of the body to focus on, and preferred position . Other pages on this website offer free recipes and articles about nutrition and PD.

Also available is the Parkinsons On The Move Exercise Library. This collection of 58 short videos each focus on stretching or strengthening a specific part of the body.

Publisher: JCC Tampa Bay on the Cohn Campus

Cost: Free

Suzanne Chen leads 43-minutes of stretch and strengthening exercises for those with Parkinsons. Equipment to follow along include an elastic band, light weights , a 8-9 inch soft ball , and a stable chair with no arms.

Publisher: JCC Greater Boston

Cost: Free

Eight YouTube exercise videos for those with Parkinsons, including four focused on neuromuscular integration, two total body conditioning and one seated strength. Most videos are about 30 to 45 minutes.

Publisher: PD Warrior PTY LTD, Australia

Cost: Free

Similar to Rock Steady Boxing in the US, this Australian app is available from Google play or the App Store is designed for early stage Parkinsons disease. It includes 10 PD Warrior core exercises for free with upgrades and additional bundles available via in app purchases to customize your workout. Each exercise is demonstrated by a physiotherapist.

Publisher Parkinsons Foundation of the National Capital Area

Cost: Free

Publisher: Power For Parkinsons

Cost: Free

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Does Playing Video Games Benefit People With Parkinsons

Beth Holloway held a Wii bowling tournament in her St. Johns, Newfoundland home, recently, with six friends who, like Beth, have Parkinsons disease. She also performs a tightrope walk, regularly, using her Wii Fit balance board. She says, I cant say these video games help my balance because I just dont know. But I like the fun of it. Anything that gets a person moving, as far as Im concerned, is a good thing.

She is possibly on the right track, judging from current research into the usefulness of Wii games in helping people with Parkinsons.

Canadian research

Esculier notes, An overall 55% improvement in the one-leg stance is great because, in one phase of walking, you have to stand on one leg so, if you can improve that, you have more stability. The 45% change on the sit-to-stand test indicates improvements to both balance and leg strength.

Interestingly, when participants rated their own performance, they did not think their balance had improved, although the objective tests showed that it had. Esculier suggests the subjects under-estimation could be a good thing because it could guard against taking unnecessary risks and increasing the likelihood of falls. Participants did report that they were walking a bit more easily than they did before.

Brian Grant Foundation Exercise Videos

Cost: Free

Cost: Free for 9 videos $29/month or $290/year for unlimited video streaming.

The nine free classes include boxing fundamentals, HIIT , chair fit, tai chi, core, yoga, stretching/mobility. The free classes are 13 to 30 minutes. Classes are led by a physical therapist with Parkinsons specific certifications.

Paid classes incorporate PWR! Moves, cognitive dual task training, balance training, intensity training, and flexibility. For subscribers, new 20-25 minute videos are released weekly.

Cost: Free

Dance exercise class videos on YouTube. Each is fewer than 10 minutes long. Nearly 30 videos as of October 28, 2020.

Rachelle was featured at the Davis Phinney Foundation Victory Summit Albany in October, 2020. Watch an interview with Rachelle here, and Rachelle’s 25 minute Dance Beyond Parkinson’s Summit presentation here.

Cost: Free

Six seated dance exercise class videos on YouTube. Each is about one hour long. All are with the same instructor.

Cost: Free for 16 videos $50 for 100+ videos

Sixteen archived exercise classes are available for free viewing. Classes are designed to increase coordination, balance, flexibility, and strength through music and movement from a broad range of dance styles. 100+ archived classes and additional benefits are available for a $50 membership.

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Parkinson Society British Columbia Exercise Recordings

Cost: Free

Purchase Info:

Cost: Free

Features thirteen men and women with PD of different ages demonstrating both standard and advanced workout routines with twice-weekly variations. Intro reviews benefits of exercise and keys to success. Exercises were developed by physical therapist expert.

Cost: Free

Archived classes from March 2020 to the present include yoga, shadow boxing, multi-tasking/cognition, strength and coordination cardio, bigger and stronger.

Cost: Free

Four of the videos posted to the PASF YouTube channel are exercise videos. Each is 25 minutes long. Focus of the videos include strength and mobility, balance skills, seated and mat exercises.

What Is Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons is a neurological illness caused by degeneration or breaking down of cells in the nervous system, explained Dr. Shprecher. The nature of Parkinsons Disease is progressive, meaning that it gets worse over time. To comprehend the natural progression of the disease, we should understand its five stages, as explained by the Parkinsons Foundation.

Stage One

Individuals experience mild symptoms that generally do not interfere with daily activities. Tremor and other movement symptoms occur on one side of the body only. They may also experience changes in posture, walking and facial expressions.

Stage Two

Symptoms worsen, including tremor, rigidity and other movement symptoms on both sides of the body. The person is still able to live alone, but daily tasks are more difficult and lengthier.

Stage Three

This is considered mid-stage. Individuals experience loss of balance and slowness of movements. While still fully independent, these symptoms significantly impair activities such as dressing and eating. Falls are also more common by stage three.

Stage Four

Symptoms are severe and limiting. Individuals may stand without help, but movement likely requires a walker. People in stage four require help with daily activities and are unable to live alone.

Stage Five

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Eating Drinking And Parkinsons Disease

• Dont rush your meals. Allow the extra time you need to finish your meal. Rest your elbows on the table to provide more motion at your wrist and hand.
• Sit with your knees and hips bent at a 90-degree angle in a straight-back chair.
• Use utensils with built-up, lightweight handles, or use a spork a spoon and fork in one. Use a rocker knife for cutting food.
• Use a non-skid mat to stabilize objects on the table.
• Use a plate guard or plate with a raised lip to prevent food from spilling.
• Use a long straw with a non-spill cup or use a plastic mug with a large handle.

How Is Parkinsons Diagnosed

Doctors use your medical history and physical examination to diagnose Parkinson’s disease . No blood test, brain scan or other test can be used to make a definitive diagnosis of PD.

Researchers believe that in most people, Parkinson’s is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Certain environmental exposures, such as pesticides and head injury, are associated with an increased risk of PD. Still, most people have no clear exposure that doctors can point to as a straightforward cause. The same goes for genetics. Certain genetic mutations are linked to an increased risk of PD. But in the vast majority of people, Parkinsons is not directly related to a single genetic mutation. Learning more about the genetics of Parkinsons is one of our best chances to understand more about the disease and discover how to slow or stop its progression.

Aging is the greatest risk factor for Parkinsons, and the average age at diagnosis is 60. Still, some people get PD at 40 or younger.

Men are diagnosed with Parkinsons at a higher rate than women and whites more than other races. Researchers are studying these disparities to understand more about the disease and health care access and to improve inclusivity across care and research.

Aging is the greatest risk factor for Parkinsons, and the average age at diagnosis is 60. Still, some people get PD at 40 or younger.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation has made finding a test for Parkinsons disease one of our top priorities.

Read Also: How Do You Get Parkinson’s Disease

Living With Parkinsons Disease

Depending on severity, life can look very different for a person coping with Parkinsons Disease. As a loved one, your top priority will be their comfort, peace of mind and safety. Dr. Shprecher offered some advice, regardless of the diseases progression. Besides movement issues Parkinsons Disease can cause a wide variety of symptoms including drooling, constipation, low blood pressure when standing up, voice problems, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, hallucinations and dementia. Therefore, regular visits with a neurologist experienced with Parkinsons are important to make sure the diagnosis is on target, and the symptoms are monitored and addressed. Because changes in your other medications can affect your Parkinsons symptoms, you should remind each member of your healthcare team to send a copy of your clinic note after every appointment.

Dr. Shprecher also added that maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise can help improve quality of life. Physical and speech therapists are welcome additions to any caregiving team.

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