Client Results

The benefits of exercise can be thought of in two categories:

1. Neuroprotection: Protecting your brain against future degeneration

2. Neuroplasticity: forming new connections around the areas of the brain that are impacted by Parkinson’s. Imagine disconnecting the damaged wires in your brain and reconnecting with new wires to make different pathways. These new paths help you to feel and function better each day.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is a protein in your brain that promotes both neuroprotection and neuroplasticity. Think of BDNF as a fertilizer for the brain. The levels of BDNF are reduced in many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s. Exercise helps “fill up your BDNF” tank, resulting in better neuroprotection and neuroplasticity.

There are 7 elements to exercising effectively for Parkinson’s. These concepts are the foundations of PWR! training but can be applied to any exercise.

1. Big, powerful movements

2. Intensity

3. Mental challenge

4. Specific to your symptoms

5. Progressive (it should change over time)

6. Fun

7. Consistency

   Our goal is that every JUMPSTART graduate :

   1. Gains the peace of mind that their current program checks all the boxes

   2. Empowers them with the knowledge to adjust any future exercise routine for max impact

Even when exercise is “Parkinson’s specific,” we see the most impact when your movement medicine is personalized to your symptoms, fitness level and goals.

Just as your doctor prescribes different medicines for different problems, the same concept applies to your movement medicine. Specificity matters. Exercise to improve walking looks different than exercise to improve posture which looks different than exercise to improve balance.

A similar concept applies to exercise dosage. Just as doctors prescribe medication dosages individually, for long term brain protection, achieving a consistent, moderate to high intensity dosage is key for brain health. Moderate intensity exercise for you looks different than moderate intensity for your neighbor. The same exercise may be low intensity for you but high intensity for someone else.

Expect more obvious positive impact on your daily life and likely, long term brain health, when your exercise is personalized to you compared with generalized exercise.

People who start exercising earlier experience a significantly slower decline in quality of life than those who start later.

Each year, more studies support the power of exercise to slow disease progression. Exercise is essential for people with Parkinson’s because it is neuroprotective, meaning it protects the nerves cells in your brain at risk for degeneration. In other words, exercise builds up your reserves, or strengthens, your most vulnerable cells before they experience damage.

Think of your exercise program as a long-term investment in your future. By building up your strength, balance, power and endurance reserves now, it will be much easier to benefit from your investment when you need it, compared to waiting to invest until the last minute.

First of all, congratulations! You are well on your way to protecting your brain and building up your reserves. That’s a huge advantage worth celebrating.

Yes, the JUMPSTART will benefit you. While any exercise is a good thing, not all exercise is created equal when it comes to protecting your brain. What you do and how you do to it matters.

You are already putting in the work. Now it’s time to elevate your program by making it Parkson’s specific, personalizing it to your symptoms and filling any gaps in your armor.

Exercise is the one thing thought to slow disease progression. Let’s work together to make sure the exercise you are already doing is as potent as possible.

No. Simply call to schedule.

Scheduling is flexible and varies depending on your goals. Most clients schedule twice a week, some more, some less. After completing your mobility assessment, Dr. Hershberger will provide recommendations to best meet your goals.

Follow up visits can be purchased on an individual basis, or in packages of 8 or 15 visits at a reduced per visit rate.

No. All of our specialized personal training programs are cash payment programs. We often receive grants through local Parkinson’s organizations which are used for partial scholarships to help reduce your participation costs. Make sure to ask if any scholarships are available when you sign up!