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Exercise is helpful for Parkinson's

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First off, I’d like to thank all of you who called or stopped by our office last week after reading my column to express your best wishes for my speedy recovery.

I’m feeling much better.

I finally got a good night’s sleep last Saturday, some two weeks after my fall in which I injured myself including the broken rib.

After that six straight hours of sleep, I felt much better. My rib pain had greatly subsided.

I was out of the office most of the last two weeks. The main problem was I wasn’t getting enough sleep. Several nights I was awake the entire time.

My wife, Diane, has been a real trouper through this ordeal. She been helpful in getting me up and down from a chair or the bed. I couldn’t have done that without her.

I came back to work, hopefully on a full-time basis this past Monday. I still have to take it easy for at least another four to five weeks. One thing I’m anxious to resume is my regular exercise routine.

I have put on seven pounds in the two weeks I have been at home. No morning workout, no evening workout and no walking at Target.

The exercise routine has been a part of my life for some eight years, and it has played, I feel, a big part in the successes I’ve had in dealing with Parkinson’s Disease.

I begin with walking back and forth across our bedroom, carrying my canes for safety reasons. I periodically go into an exaggerated step, lifting my knees almost waist high. I cross the room 10 times.

I also have a foot massager that I bought one year at the Fountain Festival. I sit down and roll that wood device with rollers cross the bottom of my feet.

While I am doing that, I have some light dumbbell weights that I do curls with for my arms. I do three sets of eight repetitions on each arm. I then stand up and hold the weights out to my sides. With arms extended, I turn from side to side.

Then I do the “Molly stretch.” Our beagle, Molly, does this stretch every morning when she first gets up. I’ve modified this to getting down on my hands and knees. I then shift my weight forward and extend my chin out and hold this position for 10 seconds. Then I shift my weight back to the legs and hold that position for 10 seconds. I shift back and forth three times each. Then I do 15 pushups, since I’m already in the position.

Next I go on the elliptical machine for 10 minutes to conclude my morning workout.

Each afternoon, Monday through Friday, my buddy, Frank, and I go to Target and walk three times around the store’s main aisle.

Each evening at 6:45 I get on my recumbent bicycle and peddle for 20 minutes.

I’m telling you all this because if it helps the way my body works with Parkinson’s then I offer it to you to try if you have Parkinson’s.

But the main thing is to exercise on a regular basis.

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Changing the subject a little bit, I want to suggest you consider running an ad in our annual Graduation issue that will be distributed on May 21 to honor that graduate in your household.

Prices start at just $25. Call 837-1925 for additional information.