“Walking, Pickleball, and the Gym—So Why a Parkinson’s Program?”

Colleen Bridges, M.Ed, NSCA-CPT, PDFS, Belmont University Occupational Therapy Advisory Board, 2020 MedFit Education Professional of the Year

Renee Rouleau- M.S. Neuroscience and Bridges for Parkinson’s Medical Science Advisor

Walking, Pickleball, and the Gym—So Why a Parkinson’s Program?

Here’s a question I regularly receive: “Why do I need a Parkinson’s-specific fitness program if I’m already walking, playing pickleball, participating in group exercise classes, or working with a trainer?” It's a fair question—because these activities are great.

Staying active is essential to slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms, and those choices support overall health. However, Parkinson’s is not a general fitness condition—it’s a complex neurological disease, requiring a more intentional approach.

Activities such as walking, cycling, swimming, or traditional group exercise classes don’t consistently target the underlying neurological symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as bradykinesia (slowness of movement), balance deficits, coordination challenges, and cognitive-motor integration. On top of that, Parkinson’s is often called a “snowflake disease,” meaning no two people experience it the same way—symptoms, medication responses, and progression can vary widely. That’s why working with a fitness specialist who understands Parkinson’s isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. It’s the difference between simply being active and following a program designed specifically to address how Parkinson’s impacts your body and your brain.

While pickleball, gardening, swimming, and gym workouts/group exercise classes are fantastic activities, AND… I fully support them. - here’s the truth:

They do not intentionally target Parkinson’s symptoms BUT…they do complement the neurological drills we do in class! 

For example:

THEN…the neurologically based exercises we perform in class address require you to: 

• Uses multi-joint, multi-plane movement

• Crossing the mid-line

• Following the tempo set by the coach

• Fine motor and voice exercises while performing main exercise

• Trains balance, agility, reaction time, and posture

• Challenges cognition while performing strength or boxing combinations

• Integrates the brain and body together

How do these drills help support your brain?

Exercise drills aren’t just about practice or warming up your body; they’re about warming up your brain too! All of the above becomes a direct stimulus for new neuronal pathways to form. For instance, using your voice and training your balance, or doing cognitively heavy tasks while performing boxing drills, incorporates a mix of stimuli meant to challenge your brain and form new connections (del Olmo et al., 2006).

Because areas of learning AND areas of movement are weaker in those with PD, doing these drills can strengthen synapses, improving motor learning and making for more coordinated movement while retaining your ability to multitask and think. There are studies that correlate to measurable changes such as higher energy use in movement centers or learning and memory centers like the hippocampus, as well as increased overall gray matter in the brain (Sehm et al., 2013; Johansson et al., 2020; Duchesne et al., 2016).

TOGETHER - helping you continue enjoying the activities you love—more safely and for longer.

Now let’s talk about gym machines. Once again, I support using machines if done correctly and the machine does not compromise the fighter’s musculoskeletal issues.

The difference between traditional machine-based workouts and our comprehensive exercise program includes:

Both have value!

Machines can help build strength and provide structure. Comprehensive PD exercise trains the brain and body to work as one.

My recommendation? If you can, do both—but always listen to your body and prioritize Parkinson’s-specific training.

Final Thought

Exercise is one of the most powerful doses of medicine a person living with Parkinson’s can take every single day, along with healthy eating, taking medications on time (every time with a full glass of water), and the support of family, friends, coaches, and medical professionals.

My hope is that this Exercise Prescription empowers you to:

• Build a routine that fits your life

• Stay consistent

• Feel stronger, steadier, and more confident

At Bridges for Parkinson’s, our team is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate, and evidence-based training. We welcome you to observe a class, explore our videos, or visit us in person.

And always remember—“The miracle is in the movement.”

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References

del Olmo, M. F., Arias, P., Furio, M. C., Pozo, M. A., & Cudeiro, J. (2006). Evaluation of the effect of training using auditory stimulation on rhythmic movement in Parkinsonian patients—a combined motor and [18F]-FDG PET study. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 12(3), 155–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2005.11.002

Duchesne, C., Gheysen, F., Bore, A., et al. (2016). Influence of aerobic exercise training on the neural correlates of motor learning in Parkinson's disease individuals. NeuroImage: Clinical, 12, 559–569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2016.09.011

Johansson, H., Hagströmer, M., Grooten, W. J. A., & Franzén, E. (2020). Exercise-induced neuroplasticity in Parkinson's disease: A metasynthesis of the literature. Neural Plasticity, 2020, 8961493. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8961493

Sehm, B., Taubert, M., Conde, V., et al. (2014). Structural brain plasticity in Parkinson's disease induced by balance training. Neurobiology of Aging, 35(1), 232–239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.06.021