sport, the best remedy to slow down Parkinson’s disease

In order to inform patients, the France Parkinson association is opening a first immersive village this weekend in Paris. On the program: activities to discover the benefits of sport to combat illness.

For most of us, Parkinson’s is just tremors. But in fact, there are around sixty other symptoms that visitors to the Park’Cœur village will be able to discover. In this first immersive village inaugurated on Saturday March 23 at Place Saint-Sulpice, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, we put ourselves in the shoes of the patient, using equipment. The France Parkinson association is at the origin of this initiative, which takes place all weekend and which will also take place in April and May across France.

Loaded with weights, her ankles hampered by hook-and-loop fasteners, Amandine Lagarde, the president of the France Parkinson association, gives a demonstration. “There, I’m trying to walk on a carpet that holds me to the groundshe explains. This is typically what happens in Parkinson’s disease, this difficulty in moving forward, this feeling of being blocked, this stuttering effect of walking and this risk of falling behind.

Thirty minutes of intensive sport per day

This neurodegenerative disease affects 270,000 people in France. It also causes problems with walking, memory and the digestive system and for the moment, there is no cure. But a study carried out by the Parkinson’s Expert Center of the Hospices Civils de Lyon has proven that intensive physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day, has a beneficial effect on the brain and not just on the muscles.

“Intensive physical activity is the equivalent of treatment.”

Teodor Danaila, neurologist

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“And what’s more, it’s the only one today that could have a slowing effect on the progression of the disease, continues neurologist Teodor Danaila, who directs this Expert Parkinson Center. Medications don’t have that effect at all. They make it possible to hide the symptoms of the disease, this is called a symptomatic effect. It is very important, that is undeniable. On the other hand, there is absolutely no effect of slowing down the disease in the long term.”

But patients do not necessarily know that sport is the best medicine to slow down Parkinson’s disease, to the great regret of the head of the president of France Parkinson. “Initially, at the time of diagnosis, there is indeed this medication prescription. But we do not systematically direct them towards this practice of physical activity and towards non-medication approachesdeplores Amandine Lagarde. It doesn’t come until later, if at all.”. The association also provides a guide to sports practices adapted to Parkinson’s patients, regardless of their age and physical condition.