Should Seniors with Parkinson’s Disease Try Exergaming?
Exercise is an important part of keeping older adults healthy. However, certain chronic conditions make regular exercise even more important. This is true for seniors with Parkinson’s disease. Exercise can help seniors with the disease to maintain their balance and mobility for longer. Not everyone enjoys exercising, though.
Home Care Services in Chadds Ford PA: Exergaming
Finding fun forms of exercise is a major part of making it a regular activity since it’s difficult to continue doing something you don’t enjoy. One way to make exercising fun is to use exergaming. A recent study shows that exergaming is an effective form of exercise for older adults with Parkinson’s disease. It may even help to slow progression.
What is Exergaming?
Exergaming is exercise that includes a technological element. One example that comes easily to mind for most people is sports-themed video games that involve movements to play, such as Wii’s tennis, bowling, and baseball. However, there are other forms of exergaming, including the use of stationary bicycles that use a computer screen to display results or to simulate a bike path and its surroundings.
There are many benefits of exergaming for older adults. For one thing, it’s fun. It takes a person’s desire to compete and reach a goal and uses it to encourage them to keep exercising. Exergaming can also be used to incorporate social interaction since people can compete against each other.
Studies show that exergaming has a positive effect on fitness, too. The American Heart Association published a report on exergaming that suggested it was a good way for people with heart problems to increase their physical activity.
What Does Research Concerning Exergaming and Parkinson’s Say?
Researchers in Holland conducted a study that they named the “Park-in-Shape” study. In Holland, bike riding is extremely popular. So, the researchers used that love of bicycling as part of the study in which a control group did stretching exercises while the test group used stationary bicycles.
The bicycling group used stationary bikes that had computer screens that offered games and motivation to keep cycling. They rode for 30 to 45 minutes per day on three days of the week over a six-week period. Some of the motivational games used, let the participants ride against themselves in the form of a “ghost rider.” Others let them ride against a group of riders.
The results of the study indicated the bicycling group had better mobility than the group that just did stretches. In addition, their cardiovascular systems were healthier.
If your older family member is interested in trying exergaming as part of their fitness routine, home care can help. If the senior is using a stationary bicycle or other equipment, a home care provider can assist them to get set up to exercise. A home care provider can also play active video games with the older adult, giving them someone to compete against and enjoy the game with. In addition, a home care provider can monitor the older adult to ensure they remain safe during exercise.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care Services in Chadds Ford, PA, please contact the friendly staff at Suma Home Care.
Call today: (484) 206-4544
Sources
Medicalnewstoday.com
Healthysd.gov
Health.harvard.edu
Parkinson.org
Ibrahim recently completed a Professional Certificate in Management; He is currently pursuing a Masters in Business Administrations (MBA) at a prestigious university in the UK.
With their passion for helping others and a strong background in customer services and clinical care, Ibrahim and his wife started assisting individuals in their homes.
Since started and operating Suma Home Care in 2010 in the basement of their home, Suma Home Care has provided professionals who work endlessly in providing clients with the highest quality of care, while enabling clients to maintain dignity, comfort and safety in their homes.
Suma Home Care, serves four counties in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Philadelphia. Ibrahim is firmly connected to his local community and is always looking for ways to give back whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Ibrahim enjoys spending time with his wife and children, travelling and enjoys sports.
Mariama Suma-Keita BSN RN
Born in Sierra Leone west Africa, relocated to America in 1999 from a civil war and settled since in the U.S.A as a Naturalized citizen Graduated from National school of nursing with an associate , and completed BSN in Nursing from Immaculata University graduated with Honor roll Alpha Lambda sigma, After escaping the war served as a refugee nurse in Gambia and Guinea to other displaced refugees before coming to America.
In the states started in Homecare then then transition into hospital, worked in Jefferson hospital as a Registered nurse on Tele and general medsurg floor, also worked in Einstein hospital as an oncology transplant nurse , I realized that I enjoy working with patients so much and believe in quality and compassionate care one at a time dealing with an holistic approach in caring for patients and family in a familiar environment called home , I see the impact and progress when they’re home , it makes them feel relax and progress fast with recovering at home. As a nurse and entrepreneur I understand that dedication to meeting people and families needs is a priority, and able to foster relationships with family and patients that is professional and friendly to help them stay and settled home as a desire.
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