Villagers utilize Parkinson's Exercise / Support Group to keep progressive symptoms at bay

The Villages Daily Sun - Josana Katz doesn’t seem like the type of person who would belong to a fight club. She has a cheerful, friendly presence and is known for her habit of welcoming just about everyone with a hug.

But despite appearances, the Village of Mallory Square resident is the leader of a large fight club meeting every week at Chatham Recreation Center. What makes this group different is that the members aren’t fighting against each other; instead they are all fighting against the same disease.

The Parkinson’s Exercise/Support Group, also known as the Parkinson Fight Club, is a group where people with the disease can find support, information and exercise routines to help keep the progressive symptoms of Parkinson’s at bay.

“The point is that this is a battle every single day, and we plan to win it,” Katz said.

Stopping the progression of a progressive disease

Katz said “When people find out they have the disease, many react to the diagnosis with feelings of depression and the attitude that there is nothing they can do to fight back”.

“We do have to overcome the attitude of defeatism,” she said. “You have to have the attitude of:

‘Yes, I can do something.’”

According to Katz, exercising is a vital part of delaying the progression of Parkinson’s disease. The group focuses on stretching, strengthening and balancing, which are the areas Parkinson’s affects most.

“Moving is imperative to the Parkinson’s person. If they are willing to move, they can eventually:

push back and keep from deteriorating.

They don’t have to end up in a wheelchair,” she said.

Strong motivations, positive attitudes

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s one year ago, Village of Woodbury resident, John Lord said he was looking for a group to help him handle the disease when he discovered the Parkinson Fight Club.

“I think originally it (the diagnosis) probably was a blow, but after awhile, I realized I wasn’t going to let it get me down,” he said.

Now, he not only attends the exercise/support group meetings, but he also leads the group in working on strengthening and stretching muscles with exercise bands. He also exercises every day at home with the routines he’s learned from the group.

“It’s part of my way of fighting,” he said. “We try to get people to fight it. It’s become a vital part of my life. I don’t miss it if I can help it.”

The dedication to exercising is something Rob Granger, of Hickory Hills Hammock, can relate to. He credits the group’s exercises to keeping the development of his Parkinson’s in check.

“I don’t think it’s gotten worse. It’s gotten better,” he said of his experience since he began working out with the club. “It really benefits everybody with Parkinson’s.”

He has noticed improvement in his ability to walk, balance and grasp objects, which are things he was having trouble with, before joining the group a few years ago.

“I can do those things now,” he said, adding he is motivated to keep up his exercising so he can take care of his wife, who is incapacitated. “She needs me, so I have to make sure I’m physically fit.

That’s a good enough motive.”

It’s hard to see any signs of Parkinson’s disease in energetic and active group member Gary Ingram of the Village of Chatham. Diagnosed with the disease 11 years ago, Ingram said he had a revelation that he didn’t have to end up in a wheelchair with Parkinson’s. He learned he could fight back against it with a healthy lifestyle and a positive attitude.

“I thought, ‘My God, you can actually get better with this disease,’”

he said.

When he found out about the optimistic approach of the Parkinson’s Exercise/Support Group, it became one of the main reasons he decided to retire in The Villages. He said the group keeps him physically functioning, but it also helps him avoid becoming depressed about having Parkinson’s.

“You have to be around positive people,”

he said.

“This is the best support group in the world. There’s something for everybody.”

Additional Unnecessary Information:

Parkinson’s disease is a motor system disorder that is chronic and progressive, causing four main symptoms, including tremors or trembling in the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face; rigidity in the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and impaired balance and coordination. Because the chronic disease is progressive, symptoms can get worse over time.

Although Katz doesn’t have Parkinson’s, her husband, Lou, was diagnosed with the disease five years ago. Ever since, Katz has looked for ways to help him stay strong and healthy.

When the Parkinson’s Exercise/Support Group in The Villages was in danger of ending, because the former leader couldn’t continue organizing it, Katz stepped up to take over. She said she wanted to give the group a positive, uplifting atmosphere, while teaching the members productive ways to fight against Parkinson’s both physically and mentally.

The support group side of the Parkinson Fight Club does a lot to keep members’ spirits up with:

·          weekly side groups getting together for activities ranging from dancing at Spanish Springs Town Square

·         bowling

·         golfing

·         the Parkinson’s Philosophers

·         the Parkinson’s Cards/Games Club.

At the regular exercise/support group meetings:

·         guest speakers

·         socials

·         motivational skits

·         other activities are mixed with creative and fun exercise routines.

As for Katz and her husband, the group has kept them:

active, involved and working together to fight Parkinson’s.

All the work is worth it, she said, when she sees what a difference the group makes for her husband and others in the community.

“It’s just keeping everybody pumped up and motivated and excited about life, always looking forward and being positive,” she said. “I want them to look forward to tomorrow. I want them to look forward to next week, next month, and I want them to look forward to next year.”