Unlock Your Best Self with PWR! Moves for Parkinson’s
Taking control of your Parkinson’s journey starts with finding the right support and tools. Imagine feeling stronger, moving with confidence, and tackling your day with renewed energy - whether through in-person guidance or online resources tailored to your needs. That’s what PWR! Moves offers: a fun, effective, and empowering approach to Parkinson’s-specific exercise. Designed to improve strength, mobility, and overall well-being, this program helps you thrive.
In this blog, we’ll introduce PWR! Moves, a groundbreaking Parkinson’s exercise program. Whether you prefer in-person classes, online videos, or at-home routines, you’ll find actionable tips to get started and feel empowered.
Why Exercise Matters in Parkinson’s
Exercise isn’t just about staying active; it’s a lifeline for those with Parkinson’s. Movement acts as medicine, offering benefits far beyond the physical:
Improved Balance: Reduces fall risk and boosts confidence.
Reduced Rigidity: Increases flexibility and decreases stiffness.
Enhanced Neuroplasticity: Helps the brain and body work together more effectively.
Better Quality of Life: Boosts mood, energy, and overall well-being.
Not all exercises are created equal, though, which is why Parkinson’s requires targeted approaches that address its unique challenges.
The Power of Amplitude Training in Parkinson’s Disease
With Parkinson’s disease, your brain often sends signals that result in movements being much smaller than they should be. Simple tasks like getting out of bed, taking a step, or even turning around can feel frustratingly difficult.
This is where amplitude training comes in - a game-changing approach that focuses on performing movements as big and powerful as possible.
Amplitude training is designed to combat some of Parkinson’s most challenging symptoms:
Flexed posture
Rigidity
Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
Small, constrained movements
Shuffling steps
Freezing episodes
There are two types of PD-specific amplitude training:
LSVT Big
PWR! Moves
By encouraging large, purposeful movements, amplitude training helps reprogram the brain and body, contracting these symptoms and unlocking greater freedom of movement.
Research has consistently shown that amplitude training can lead to improved motor performance and functional abilities, making it a vital tool for individuals living with Parkinson’s.
What is LSVT BIG?
LSVT BIG (Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG) is an evidence-based treatment that focuses on helping people with Parkinson’s disease increase their movement amplitude. It helps you move bigger and with greater ease.
The program’s goal is to recalibrate how individuals perceive their own body’s movements and align that with how others see them, ultimately making movements feel more natural and less restrictive.
PRO TIP: If you don’t have a Squatty Potty, a simple footstool can work, too. This posture change can make bathroom visits easier and more effective.
How Does LSVT BIG Work?
The program is structured as a one-month intensive course, where participants engage in 4 one-hour sessions per week for 4 weeks. During each session, individuals work one-on-one with a trained therapist who focuses on:
Training the body to move with increased amplitude
Improving motor function
Enhancing overall movement quality and coordination
In addition to the weekly sessions, participants are given daily homework exercises to reinforce the movements outside of their therapy sessions. These exercises are critical in ensuring carryover into everyday life, allowing for continued improvement after the program ends.
What is PWR! Moves?
Developed by Dr. Becky Farley, a pioneer in Parkinson’s rehabilitation, PWR! Moves are designed to combat the small, shuffling movements and stooped posture often associated with the disease, replacing them with large, purposeful motions.
What makes PWR! Moves Stand Out?
Scientific Foundation
PWR! Moves is rooted in cutting-edge research, focusing on neuroplasticity to help your brain and body adapt and improve.
Functional Focus
The exercises aren’t just for fitness - they’re designed to help you with everyday activities, such as getting out of a chair or walking with ease.
Customizable and Inclusive
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with Parkinson’s for years, PWR! Moves can be tailored to suit your fitness level and mobility needs.
Supportive Community
The program emphasizes connection, offering a network of instructors and peers who motivate and inspire each other.
Transformative Benefits of PWR! Moves
Participants in PWR! Moves programs consistently report a range of physical, emotional, and social benefits.
Physical Benefits
Improved Posture: Combat stooped shoulders and strengthen your back for a taller, more confident stance
Enhanced Mobility: Reduced stiffness and increase your range of motion for smoother, more fluid movements
Better Balance: Target weight-shifting and coordination to minimize the risk of falls
Emotional Benefits
Confidence Boost: Mastering new movements and seeing progress can do wonders for self-esteem
Stress Relief: Exercise releases endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones that help manage stress and anxiety.
Social Benefits
Connection: Joining a community of like-minded individuals fosters a sense of belonging and mutual encouragement
Four PWR! Moves to Try Today
You don’t have to wait to experience the benefits of PWR! Moves. Here are four foundational exercises you can do at home.
PWR! Up
Purpose: Strengthens posture and counters stooping.
How-To: Stand tall, with your feet shoulder-width apart. Reach both arms overhead, stretching as if you’re trying to touch the sky. Hold for 5 seconds, then release.
2. PWR! Rock
Purpose: Enhances balance and weight shifting.
How-To: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Gently shift your weight from one foot to the other, keeping movements smooth and controlled.
3. PWR! Twist
Purpose: Improves trunk rotation and flexibility
How-To: Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Place your hands on your knees, then twist your upper body to one side. Return to the center and repeat on the other side.
4. PWR! Step
Purpose: Encourages confident, deliberate steps
How-To: Step forward with your right foot, swinging your left arm forward at the same time. Alternate sides if you’re walking with purpose.
LSVT BIG vs PWR! Moves
LSVT BIG focuses on recalibrating movement size through structured, one-on-one therapy sessions that teach individuals with Parkinson’s to use bigger, more automatic movements in daily life.
PWR! Moves builds on similar amplitude principles but offers a more flexible and comprehensive approach. It targets functional movement patterns, balance, coordination, and agility, and can be adapted to group settings or various ability levels.
While both programs help manage Parkinson’s symptoms, PWR! Moves are more versatile and community-oriented.
At Rogue Physical Therapy and Wellness, we focus on PWR! Moves because it aligns with our mission to provide versatile and inclusive Parkinson’s-specific exercise programs. PWR! Moves offer the flexibility to meet the needs of individuals at different stages of Parkinson’s and foster a supportive group environment.
While LSVT BIG is a fantastic program, it’s more rigid in structure and requires specific certification that we currently do not offer at Rogue.
By choosing PWR! Moves, we can deliver comprehensive and adaptable exercises that fit the needs of our members, ensuring everyone has access to effective, engaging, and evidence-based Parkinson’s exercise programs.
The Role of Community in Parkinson’s Wellness
One often overlooked aspect of Parkinson’s management is the power of connection. A supportive community can make all the difference in staying consistent with exercise, feeling motivated, and navigating the challenges of Parkinson’s.
Now, if you’re newly diagnosed or finding it hard to stay consistent with home routines, joining a local gym or Parkinson’s community could be a great step. You’ll meet individuals who share your journey and celebrate your victories. This sense of camaraderie turns exercise sessions into uplifting experiences that nourish both body and soul.
For those in the Orange County, California area, you can check out our in-person classes here at Rogue Physical Therapy and Wellness.
Online Parkinson’s Exercise Videos
If staying at home is your only option right now, you can still stay active and connect with others by signing up for live and recorded Parkinson’s-specific exercise sessions online. These tutorials provide step-by-step instructions led by physical therapists, ensuring you feel supported at every stage of your journey.
You can explore our interactive online classes at Rogue in Motion, designed to bring the same supportive and motivating environment straight to you, no matter where you are!
Stories of Transformation
Countless individuals with Parkinson's have experienced remarkable improvements in their symptoms and quality of life through amplitude training exercises.
In fact, one participant shared a powerful story of transformation after incorporating amplitude training into her daily routine. Not only did her physical abilities improve, but her confidence and communication skills flourished as well.
Here are the testimonials from people with PD:
“PWR! Moves allowed me to move around in bed and get off the floor safely!”
“PWR! Moves physically improved my everyday abilities such as the tightness that comes with PD. These classes are beneficial because they make us stronger and less likely to fall. Also, being in a class setting is such a positive experience where you receive support from the instructors and other members who have the same disease”.
“All the instructor’s education and awareness is at such a higher level than others and that allows us to participate in classes better”.
“The PWR! Moves help strengthen and lengthen muscles, improve my neurological patterning, and slow the rate of my Parkinson’s.”
These stories highlight the profound impact of programs like PWR! Moves can have, extending benefits far beyond physical improvements.
How to Get Started with PWR! Moves
The beauty of PWR! Moves lies in its simplicity and adaptability. Whether you prefer in-person classes, virtual sessions, or self-paced exercises, there’s an option to suit every lifestyle.
Tips for Success:
Start Small: Commit to just 15 minutes a day and gradually increase as you gain confidence.
Create a Routine: Dedicate a specific time each day to your exercises, building a consistent habit.
Celebrate Milestones: Recognize every bit of progress, no matter how small, as a step forward.
Final Thoughts
Parkinson’s may bring challenges but with tools like amplitude training and programs like PWR! Moves, those challenges can be met head-on. This isn’t just about managing symptoms but it’s about thriving, reclaiming independence, and living life on your terms.
So take the first step today. Whether you’re practicing from home or joining a class, every move you make is an investment in your well-being.
Remember: You are worth the effort, the time, and the care.
Start your PWR! Moves journey today, and discover just how transformative these exercises can be. Your future self will thank you.
If you want to learn more, click the video below to watch the lecture from Julia Freeman.