What Not To Do

Last week someone asked if there are any exercises that are not recommended for people with Parkinson’s. My initial thought was (and I have heard others say), “some exercises are better than others, but any exercise is good, so just do it.” I wondered what professionals were saying about this so I turned to our favorite source - the internet. The first “authoritative” site I found was Henry Ford Health, a leader in healthcare in the state of Michigan. On their website page on managing Parkinson’s they recommend avoiding weightlifting, stationary bicycles and slow walking on treadmill. They indicate these are not efficient exercises for the needs of someone living with Parkinson’s.  Upon closer examination I began to wonder if these recommendations were self serving.

First, a little background on Mr. Ford. He, of course, was the founder of Founder of Ford Motor Company. He made his living, and his family still does, making vehicles stronger than horses, go places stationary bikes never will go and faster than walking - exactly the type of exercising the health system he founded discourages. While one might argue the cost of healthcare in the U.S. is outrageous, if you read between the lines the Fords might prefer you buy a car rather than exercise. Which as I struggle to exercise daily and my car is becoming more and more unreliable, I appreciate their covert tactics. If only they still made the Edsel…