Key points from today’s guests:
Sarissa Curry, president & head coach, Parkinson’s Exercise and Wellness Center
- Sarissa’s gym focuses on exercise and wellness programs specifically for those dealing with Parkinson’s, including a special boxing class.
- She was teaching other group fitness classes when the need for specialized training came to her. Her gym helps fill an important void.
- Exercise has become a more significant therapy for people living with Parkinson’s.
- Programs have expanded to include stretching classes, weight training, dance, Pilates, and more.
- There are a variety of classes for different stages of Parkinson’s.
- There is a slogan in the gym called “if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you.”
Dan Monks, living with Parkinson’s
- About three years ago at a Thanksgiving dinner, a family member asked about his tremor in his finger. He had not noticed it and got it checked out.
- Two different doctors diagnosed Dan with Parkinson’s. About a year later, he joined Sarissa’s gym to take boxing classes.
- Although he was pretty active before, being at the gym has helped him with his balance.
- There is a great camaraderie at the gym and it helps everyone keep working to be healthier.
Dan McDonald, living with Parkinson’s
- When he was diagnosed, he could not walk very well and had a difficult time with everyday activities.
- He joined the gym for the special boxing classes and was impressed with how everyone was welcoming. Exercising at that gym did wonders for his fatigue and soreness.
- He also wanted to help other people who were there for the same reasons.
- He goes to the gym as many as six times a week.
Dr. Kelvin Au, movement disorder specialist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Exercise is always helpful, but it truly does make a difference in people with Parkinson’s.
- The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are tremor, slowness, and stiffness. The tremor can begin in one hand or the leg and it can begin that's just a small twitch. Sometimes people put it off as just getting older, but eventually it gets to the point where you should go see your doctor about some of these symptoms progressing.
- Parkinson's being a brain condition means it can affect many different symptoms. Those include mood symptoms, like depression and anxiety. It can affect your sleep memory and thinking.
- People with Parkinson's experience muscles that are tighter. They're not getting the full range of motion with their movements. They're not extending the joints to the full capability. So boxing really trains them to do that in a fun way. To get a full punch you have to stretch out your muscles, and that really helps with the movements on a day-to-day basis.
- These movements that are done at the boxing classes are quite complex. You need to make sure your stance is okay. You need to pivot your hips and then reach out and strike the bag. Having these multiple tasks all at once and doing that repeatedly will help with getting blood flow to the brain and then that can also help with your attention and mental clarity.
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, medical director of Infection Prevention and Control, The University of Kansas Health System
- The COVID inpatient count has jumped to 33 this week, an increase from 19 last week.
- When the pandemic started, COVID was occurring in any month or any season. And that was just because we didn't have any individual nor community based immunity. We didn't have vaccine and we didn't really have good oral antivirals to use in the outpatient setting.
- But now it is looking as if there is more of a seasonality to circulation of COVID. I think we are starting to add the increased seasonality of this virus in combination with those other common cough and cold viruses during these cold months.
Wednesday, December 13 at 8 a.m. is the next Open Mics with Dr. Stites. It's called the Angelina Jolie effect. More women than ever are having their breasts or ovaries removed just in case they get cancer. We ask doctors when it makes the most sense and hear from one woman who made a drastic decision based on her genetics
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