I thought I was in tip-top condition. After all, with
averaging almost two hours a day of gym time virtually every day, I was working
hard and my body was showing results. My weight was down to 174 from 195 at the
beginning of this year and my waist was down to 33 from 36”.. My body was the
size it was in high school. Then I tried the TRX system. That’s when I realized
that my exercise program needed a makeover. TRX is a simple, inexpensive and
time effective exercise system used by the military (according to the sales
material),
The system depends on a single strap which connects to a
stable point in your gym (which could also be your living room, bedroom or
kitchen, or that tree in your backyard.)
That strap then connects to two straps, one for each arm, and occasionally
for each leg. It is a lack of rigidity that causes your body to continuously
work hard to stabilize and balance itself.
Now pay attention, Parkinson people. If you are not yet
challenged by your body to maintain balance, you probably will be. And when that
happens, occasionally you will find yourself looking up at people looking down
at you and trying to help you up because you fell. It’s one of the more
unpleasant symptoms of PD, notwithstanding the helpful nature of New Yorkers
willing to lend you a hand. (That’s not sarcasm. New Yorkers are ready to
spring into action whenever a fellow human is in trouble. I have experienced it
on two memorable occasions. Once when I was hit by a truck while crossing Second
Avenue and a crowd of people all tried to help protect me as I laid in the
gutter from cars in the street and kept me dry under their umbrellas while they
stood in the pouring rain until an ambulance arrived. Another time, I fell down
a flight of stairs in the 63rd Street subway. A young man not only
picked me up within one second of my fall, he helped me on my train while telling
anyone who would listen what a tough old man I was., but I digress…) Knowing
how to remain upright can be important. My Dad fell down a flight of concrete
stairs mostly using his head to absorb the impact in his 80’s, and while he
lived to 90, I know his last years would have been a whole lot better (and so
much easier on my Mother) had he not fallen. I don’t know if it’s possible to
teach your sense of balance to do it’s job once Parkinsoln’s tries to take it
away. But I’m not going to wait until someone figures that out. It looks like
the TRX system can help train my sense of balance. If it does not, I haven’t
lost anything because the rest of the system is worth the price.
I have now used the TRX two days in a row. The typical (if there is such
a thing) workout lasts just between 15 and 30 minutes. minutes. Since my
muscles work better if I exercise every day, I plan to alternate between my gym
equipment as described in last night’s blog and TRX:. Unlike the way my gym
stuff works with no effort other than you isolating a muscle or three and
working that, with TRX you have to strain virtually every muscle just to keep
your balance. This uses so much more effort that after 15 minutes, you will
looking for an excuse like tying your shoe just so you will be able to sneak a
little recovery.
I’m going to explore those exercises that seem geared to
help with Parkinson’s symptoms and report back.
And, of course, don’t forget the aerobic exercises. There is
no stopping the progression of Parkinson’s disease symptoms EXCEPT IF YOU EXERCISE.
ITS UP TO YOU.
ee you soon.
JP
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