The Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD), in partnership with Nambucca Physiotherapy, Parkinson’s NSW and the Nambucca Valley Parkinson’s Support Group, is conducting the nine-week Powerful Parkinson’s Disease Exercise Program (PPDEP).

The program aims to integrate exercise into a person’s daily life, alleviate the symptoms of the disease, slow disease progression, and create new pathways in the brain called neuroplastiscity.

MNCLHD Neurology Clinical Nurse Consultant, Vince Carroll, said research suggested that exercise improves mobility, reduces falls, improves physical ability and improves a person’s quality of life.

“Everyone with Parkinson’s disease should be exercising,” Mr Carroll said.

“It doesn’t seem to matter what exercise they do; people with Parkinson’s disease benefit from just getting up and moving.”

Affecting an estimated 80,000 Australians and up to six million people worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s.

It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control, and symptoms include shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression. 

There are also non-motor symptoms such as depression and anxiety. There is no cure for the disease.

Mr Carroll and Physiotherapist Joanne Waller coordinated the local program and are excited about the initiative being available to people with Parkinson’s disease in the Nambucca Valley and the Coffs Coast.

“Eleven people recently completed the program and spoke of the benefits they have experienced to their everyday life,” Mr Carroll said.

“The feedback from participants has been amazing.

“One participant recently was able to complete half of the Urunga Headland walk, something he has not done for some time.

“His energy levels have improved and he feels confident walking again.

“Another participant said ‘I am getting on well and doing my exercises. I am so pleased that I am feeling so good’.”

The program is based on the principle that exercise as an intervention slows the disease and lessens a person’s symptoms.

“People who start exercising late in the disease progression can also gain benefits, however, the earlier a person starts, the greater gain they can have,” Mr Carroll said.

Mrs Waller, who recently conducted the program over nine weeks, said she was also impressed with the results.

“Exercise teaches the brain how to learn,” she said.

“For example, it can teach the brain how to put a foot back down on the accelerator or brake pedal.

“It teaches the brain to work harder to drive normal movement, a principle known as neuroplastiscity.”

The Nambucca Valley program resumes in early February. The Coffs Harbour program will start in late February.

Anyone wanting more information about the exercise programs in Nambucca and Coffs Harbour for people with Parkinson’s disease can contact Mrs Waller on 6568-7700 or Mr Carroll on 6659-2333.