PD SAFEx – Now accepting participants

PD SAFEx – the exercise prescription for Parkinson’s Disease

PD SAFEx is the effective exercise that has been proven in clinical trials to have slowed the progression of Parkinson’s Disease symptoms beyond traditional drug treatment and other exercise options. The program consists of a series of easy-to-do exercises that are carried out under the guidance of a Registered Kinesiologist or Physiotherapist in either group or individually settings depending on the stage of the participants disease progression.

Parkinson’s Disease has no cure

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and degenerative movement disorder of the central nervous system. Parkinson’s is an idiopathic (having no known cause) and presently, there is no cure. It affects over one million people in Canada and the United States and of all neurodegenerative disorders, it is second only to Alzheimer’s. Parkinson’s has a dramatic long-term impact on one’s ability to control every-day movements, quality of life and independence. Early in the course of the disease, the most obvious symptoms are tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, balance and difficulty with walking. Later, cognitive and behavioural problems may arise, with dementia commonly occurring in the advanced stages of the disease.

Treatments are available for Parkinson’s

Current pharmaceutical treatments are effective at managing the early motor symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, these drugs may become less effective and produce complications including dyskinesia, evidenced by involuntary writhing movements. In some cases, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery is an option to help reduce motor symptoms. Exercise has also been shown to have a profound effect on neurological function. PD SAFEx is an prescribed exercise program that – clinical trials have proven – slows the progression of symptoms beyond traditional drug treatment without the negative side-effects.