Exercise is medicine

So, recently I went for a review with the Physiotherapist who trained me on the LSVT Big programme. We went through the exercises and he did a few tests on me to see what improvement I had made since the first time I was assessed just over a year ago. One test I had to walk up and down between two points timed for six minutes. Let me tell you, six minutes can feel like a very long time! He compared my results with the previous results and told me ‘you smashed it!’ apparently my score – however he worked that out – went up by about 1.5 times. I have to work on my technique for a couple of exercises, but other than that I am doing well.

Now for the next part. He talked to me about including more exercise in my life. Aerobic/cardio exercises. Strength and balance exercises. Ones to improve agility and multi-tasking and flexibility. That’s a lot to work on! He suggested the best way to do all this is to go to a gym. Now, I have been a gym goer off and on for years. Lately, a bit more ‘off’ than ‘on’. For various reasons I stopped going to the gym. Maybe now though if going to the gym and improving my overall fitness will minimise my risk of progressing too quickly, then it is time to return.

So, this afternoon I went and checked out three local gyms and have found one I think I could fit in with. One of the gyms was large and showy and busy with lots of shiny equipment. It just didn’t feel like it would be an environment I would be that comfortable with. It was full of ‘beautiful people’ and I couldn’t see anyone older – like me – that I could identify with. The second gym was smaller and was closer to my comfort zone. There was even someone there who looked ‘normal’ and not like the uber fit types at the first place. This was the front runner and then I went to the third one.

The third gym from the outside was uninspiring. However, I walked through the doors and it felt comfortable. Holly, the person behind the desk had been trying to get hold of me after I had expressed an interest online. She was welcoming and showed me round the gym. When I talked about my Parkinson’s diagnosis, she was the only one of the three who actually gave me some feedback about what I would need to work on. She talked about working with other Parkinson’s people and how she supports them and could support me. So, despite the exterior and initial outer appearance, I think I have found a place and a person I am comfortable with.

So, there you are. I will mull for a day or so and work out my next step, but basically I am 99.9% sure that I will be joining a gym again. So, if exercise is medicine, then this woman is ready to take her medicine!