The Edmonds Senior Center helps support a movement/exercise class along with Parkinson School For Change to help Parkinson’s patients get control of their movement again. The class is held Tuesdays from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 220 Railroad Ave., just south of the Edmonds ferry terminal.

This is based on the principle of use it or lose it. Practice may not make you perfect, but it will make you a lot better. Consistent exercise has been recognized for over 20 years as the most productive way to manage Parkinson’s disease symptoms. In our Practical Fitness classes, taught by instructor Jennifer Roach, students will learn and practice techniques for lessening the effects of Parkinson’s on their movement. Students who practice exercise regularly have proven that they can walk better, get out of chairs and cars easier and have better balance.

Every class has walking practice included. As Roach points out: “The biggest hurdle and the most common problems that a Parkinson’s patient has to face are the problems associated with walking. If there was no issue with walking they could easily get enough exercise to control their symptoms. Mostly they give up because no one ever told them what the problem was.

“Here’s the solution: If you can’t lift your foot, it is because you are standing on it. Everyone shifts their weight automatically off of the foot that they will be lifting, except for Parkinson’s patients. For some people that’s all they need to know. Others need practical tricks to get the signals from the brain to the feet. Not everyone has a walking problem who has Parkinson’s, but it is the most troubling.”

Classes always begin with stretching, which is essential for Parkinson’s patients. Muscles get tight easier than normal people and stretching should be done often. Daily recommendations are 20-30 minutes in the morning and evening and whenever possible throughout the day. Even wiggling the toes every commercial can make a difference. The first half hour is usually stretching and exercising from a chair. This is suitable for everyone. As the class progresses, those with greater disability may have alternate or adapted assignments. The rules are: Do what you can; take a break when you need to; and don’t be discouraged when something is difficult as that is an important aspect of the class.

“If you’re not being challenged, you’re in the wrong class.” The rule that challenging yourself is an important aspect of controlling your Parkinson’s symptoms drives a lot of what is done in class. Another rule is that repetition can reprogram faulty signals from the brain to the muscles. Parkinson’s does not effect the muscles directly. It effects the brain signals to the muscles.

One of the biggest challenges is getting information about Parkinson’s that tells the patient what they can do for themselves. For this reason the instructor always brings Parkinson’s information to class and is always willing to find the answer to your movement problem. Information is provided by donations to the Parkinson School For Change and is always free. Classes are $5 for members and $8 for non-members and supports activities both at Edmonds Senior Center and those funded by the Parkinson School For Change, both 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

For more information about Parkinson’s and classes, contact jennifer@ParkinsonSchoolForChange.org or 206-920-1151. Fee waivers available.

— Submitted by the Edmonds Senior Center