Did you know that…

Although CrossFit® is best known for big muscles and Parkinson’s disease known for tremors in the elderly, Parkinson’s disease and CrossFit® have more in common than you might imagine.   Approximately 60,000 mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, friends and neighbors will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease yearly in the US.  Currently, more than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s disease; an incurable, progressive, degenerative neurologic disease often associated with a resting tremor.  The CrossFit® community is joining forces to bring awareness to the benefits of exercise to those affected with Parkinson’s.  

Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world.  Incidence of Parkinson’s disease increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with PD are diagnosed before age 50.  Men are 1.5 times more likely to have Parkinson’s disease than women.

CrossFit® is high intensity functional movements reflected in the core components of gymnastics, weightlifting, rowing and running.  There are currently more than 15,000 affiliate gyms which promote engagement and participation in a healthy lifestyle.  The WODs (Crossfit ® lingo for Workout Of Day) can be scaled to meet the needs of those who are out of shape and those who have special needs such as those with Parkinson’s.   

CrossFit® training can also reduce the risk of fall related injuries by strengthening bones, ligaments, and, of course, muscles.   Falling is a significant danger for most with Parkinson’s disease as changes in gait are often resistant to medication and other therapies such as deep brain stimulation.

Individuals with Parkinson’s can benefit from exercise by improving symptom management including tremors, muscle stiffness, slowness in movements and loss of balance.  There is strong medical evidence that exercise improves gait, balance, flexibility, range of motion and body control. Exercise is a game changer for those with Parkinson’s disease and the benefits seem to increase with increased exercise intensity.  Parkinson’s symptoms have been shown to improve with running, biking, boxing, and even ballroom dancing. 

Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease is more than just a constellation of motor symptoms.  Because of the lack of dopamine, Parkinson’s patients often suffer from anxiety, insomnia, addictive behaviors and isolation. CrossFit® increases dopamine production thus improving motor as well as non-motor symptoms.  Moreover, CrossFit® is an accepting community encouraging participation and discouraging the apathy and isolation often associated with degenerative neurologic diseases.