'Delay the Disease' exercise regimen aims to combat effects of Parkinson's Disease
Officials from OhioHealth, a charitable healthcare-focused arm of the United Methodist Church, are hoping that an exercise regimen designed to combat the onset of Parkinson’s disease can gain traction in the Pittsburgh area.
Redstone Highlands officials in North Huntingdon have incorporated the “Delay the Disease” regimen into its programming for senior residents, with the hope of expanding it to its other locations in Murrysville and Greensburg.
Led by a certified OhioHealth instructor, the program aims to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of Parkinson’s patients.
“PD patients can manage their disease through exercise – and we encourage everyone to start today,” said David Zid, OhioHealth’s director of movement disorder and musculoskeletal wellness, who developed the program alongside OhioHealth’s Program Development Coordinator Jackie Russell. “Our goal is to make the benefits of ‘Delay the Disease’ classes available to as many people with PD as possible.”
Focusing on symptom-specific exercises with the goal of optimizing function and restoring a measure of independence, “Delay the Disease” includes six class levels ranging from chair-bound participants to advanced and “boot camp” and are being used in 17 states, according to DelayTheDisease.com.
“The program focuses on cognitive and physical exercises for someone with Parkinson’s. Rigidity, shuffling, these are things that are really specific to that condition,” said Redstone Nurse Navigator Jaclyn Jones. “Getting out of the chair, and then also doing something like subtracting by three while we’re exercising, is a big help.”
The current pilot at the North Huntingdon location will run for 12 weeks, through the end of may. Jones said a “summer semester” of exercises will start up in June.
Redstone officials said they are excited to see what the results of “Delay the Disease” programming will be for residents, and are excited to invite members of the public to participate as well.
“We understand the challenges those living with Parkinson’s disease face and believe regular exercise is the key to living a fuller, happier life,” said Vicki Loucks, Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare vice president.
For more, or to consider participation in the next round of classes, contact Linda Dickson at 724-832-8402, ext. 391.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.
