Exercise Effect on Parkinson's Studied

Researchers at the new Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix launched a study this month designed to determine the physical and neurological impact of simple exercise on Parkinson?s disease patients age 50 to 70.

During the 12-week trial, participants follow a structured exercise program called pole-striding (walking with ski-like poles) three days a week for 45 minutes.

They are monitored and coached by staff members from the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. They wear heart rate monitors and pedometers to measure the intensity of the training.

Participants? brains are monitored to determine if increased physical activity helps protect the neurons in the brain from the disease.