Recently I received emails asking for balance exercises. This seems like a simple question but the answer is not always straight forward. Exercises which would enhance the balance of a person with young onset PD will look quite different from exercises to enhance the balance of an elderly person with PD who also has arthritis. Generally speaking the muscles in our legs are the main guide wires for balance. Fortunately there are many avenues to strengthen these guide wires. Performing exercises in a standing position offers the greatest return on your investment. These types of exercises or activities would be: Tai Chi, Dance (becoming more popular and definitely more fun), Rock Steady boxing, Delay the Disease program, playing Wii games/balance activities, LSVT BIG or Parkinson’s wellness recovery program or simply performing conditioning exercises. Yoga, another form of strengthening which isn’t necessarily performed in the standing position, offers both strength and flexibility benefits. The level of difficulty can be adjusted with all of these activities. Balance exercises should be performed in a safe environment so that proper support is available to prevent a fall and at an intensity to achieve strength gains.
