Water Exercises for Parkinson's: Maintaining Balance, Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility

For people with Parkinson's, their families, and the therapists who treat them. For the one million Americans who have Parkinson's, this book provides gentle and effective water exercises to maintain balance, strength, endurance, and flexibility. For the therapist, this book provides both a good reference for programming and a good tool to send home with the patient. Because there are safety concerns when a person with Parkinson's is in the water, the book describes how a companion can help with each of the exercises to ensure the safety and comfort of the participant. Whether it is a therapist, a spouse, a relative, or a friend, the companion and the participant can work together to create an enjoyable and effective exercise program. Also included is information on medications, vitamins and minerals, herbs, diet, and nutrition. Parkinson's is progressive and we may not have a cure yet, but that is no reason to give up hope. Maintaining a physical exercise program will allow the person with Parkinson's to maintain an active and independent life as long as possible. People who have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and people who have been dealing with the disease for an extended period of time want to preserve their independent lifestyle. In order for their independence to be preserved, people with Parkinson's need to retain the physical functions of their bodies for as long as possible, especially flexibility, strength, and functional mobility. An exercise program is essential to achieve these goals. Such an exercise program is explained in great detail in this book, Water Exercises for Parkinson's. This book is written for people who have Parkinson's disease, their families, and professional caregivers such as physical therapists, personal trainers, fitness instructors, nurses, and physicians. The book will help guide people with Parkinson's through a water exercise program as part of the overall management of their disease. Exercise will not cure or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease. Exercise, especially water exercise, will help to improve body strength and balance so the person is less incapacitated and able to lead an independent, active life for a longer period of time. Exercise improves balance and gait problems in people with Parkinson's, and improves their emotional well being by giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Even though the exercises are to be performed by the person who has Parkinson's disease, those who are associated with the care of the person with Parkinson's need to review the material in this book with him/her. Sometimes people who have Parkinson's have a difficult time remembering tasks from one day to the next. People with Parkinson's also do better when they learn to master one task at a time. This is where the caregiver, companion, spouse, or fitness trainer can be of help by reading through this book with the person with Parkinson's and by assisting him/her to master the exercises at his/her own pace. Water Exercises for Parkinson's will present the importance of exercise as part of the overall treatment plan for people who have Parkinson's disease. The benefits of water exercises will be emphasized along with descriptions of helpful water exercises, workout programs, and safety during those exercises and workouts.Ann A. Rosenstein is the author of 'Water Exercises for Parkinson's: Maintaining Balance, Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility' with ISBN 9781882883493 and ISBN 1882883497.