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Parkinson's and Weight Training

Exercise is beneficial to people with Parkinson's disease. It increases oxygen flow, reduces stiffness and improves balance. While weight training should not be the only exercise someone with Parkinson's does, it can be valuable, according to the Parkinson's Disease Clinic and Research Center of the University of California, San Francisco.

  1. Benefits of Weight Training

    • Increased muscle mass resulting from weight training helps a person with Parkinson's disease to maintain balance better, stand with a more upright posture and improve walking speed, according to the Parkinson's Disease Clinic. Stronger muscles also make it easier to climb stairs, according to the website Everyday Health.

    Upper Body Weight Training

    • According to the National Center on Physical Activity and Disabilities, a person with Parkinson's disease should use light weights of about 2 to 2.5 pounds, and should lift them slowly with a smooth motion. Good upper body exercises include triceps extensions or walking with wrist weights. Wall push-ups are also beneficial.

    Lower Body Weight Training

    • Good lower body weight training exercises for the person with Parkinson's include toe and leg extensions, as well as walking with ankle weights. Also beneficial are squats, pushing up from the toes and rising repeatedly from a chair.

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