Part I or II May is National Bike Month! In fact, Saturday, May 7, 2022 Lackawanna Heritage Valley’s Heritage Explorer Bike Tour is returning in person for the first time since 2019. For those who have a bike, now might be a good time to dust it off and enjoy the many beautiful and well-maintained […]
Health Benefits of Dancing The last two columns in “Health & Exercise Forum” have been dedicated to the health benefits of exercise for Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, the use of dance was featured as a method to promote strength, balance, coordination and agility in this population. However, dance as a form of exercise and for the […]
April is National Parkinson’s Awareness Month Part I of II Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, degenerative disease that leads to slowness of movement, balance disorders, tremors, and difficulty walking. PD results from the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is critical to stimulate the nerves of the muscular system in the […]
Injuries due to falling are a very common problem in the elderly. Hip fractures are the most common injury due to falling in the seniors. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, each year more than 300,000 people are hospitalized for hip fractures in the United States. These fractures represent 72% of all fracture […]
Part II of II You are never too old to exercise! This is the second of two columns dedicated to appropriate exercise for the elderly. Last week I discussed basic strengthening exercises. This column will address three additional components necessary for independence in the elderly: flexibility, balance and endurance. While it may not be as […]
PART I OF II You are never too old to exercise! A reader who described herself as “elderly” asked me if she was too old to exercise. Without knowing her age, I replied that she was not. I did qualify my response with the fact that exercise must be adjusted to meet the individual needs […]
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, degenerative disease that leads to slowness of movement, balance disorders, tremors, and difficulty walking. PD results from the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain.
Part I of II What is Parkinson's Disease (PD) Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic, degenerative disease that leads to slowness of movement, balance disorders, tremors, and difficulty walking. PD results from the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is critical to stimulate the nerves of the muscular system in the body. […]
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and there is good news to report! A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association from Harvard has found that regular exercise can improve the survival of patients with breast cancer. I have discussed these findings with local physician, Dr. Christopher Peters of Northeast Radiation […]
82 million adults spend an estimated 28 billion dollars on gym memberships each year! WHY? There are many reasons we exercise. Some people exercise to prevent illness such as cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis. Others exercise for mental health and as a stress release; others do it to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance to prepare for […]
