BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) – Strengthening muscles, agility, and flexibility is the goal of a program aimed at helping those with Parkinson’s disease.
Folks attending a class in Barre on Wednesday were moving their feet and keeping active in an effort to push back on Parkinson’s.
“I have been participating with Push Back for several years and this is a good one,” said Robert Merchant, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 17 years. He says he sometimes struggles to talk, move his hands, and balance, but Barre’s Push Back program keeps him going. “That is the whole secret with dealing with Parkinson’s — is keep going.”
The Rehab Gym in Barre, in partnership with the UVM Health Network, has held the program since 2019. It’s typically held for 12 weeks and focuses on higher-intensity workouts to improve strength, agility, and flexibility.
“They are able to move better, less frequent falls. That is always a goal, just feeling better in general. This program also allows us to have a social aspect and build a community, not just focusing on physical,” said Casey Moulton, a Push Back coach.
Parkinson’s disease impacts nerve cells that produce dopamine, an important chemical in the brain, which leads to difficulty in speech, body movement, and memory.
“There is a lot of evidence — and growing evidence — that exercise is beneficial potentially in terms of preservation of brain function. As we are thinking about something that is a neurodegenerative condition, it’s a progressive brain disorder. Anything we can do to preserve brain function would be obviously a goal,” said Dr. James Boyd, a UVMMC neurologist:
For Merchant, the program is much more than exercise. “This class really lets you get involved with other people, which is important. It also lets you use your muscles as well as your mind,” he said.