Why exercise helps people with movement disorders

While most of us appreciate the importance of exercise for our general health and well-being, many of us are unaware of the positive contributions exercise can have on the many traumatic side-effects resulting from a range of neurological diseases.

Not only will exercise increase your longevity but it can slow the progression of your illness if not (in some cases) reverse some of the damage that it has already made! Exercise is indeed magic and if it is prescribed correctly and with the correct focus it can truly be the most helpful “treatment” you will have ever had and it will substantially improve your quality of life.

Neurological conditions that we work with may include (but are not limited to):

• Stroke

• Post-concussion syndrome

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Mental Illness

• Sleep Disorders

• Coronary Artery Disease

Analysis of the most common neurological conditions and predicted trends over the next 15 years suggests the greatest impact will be on high-income countries, including New Zealand.

Unfortunately, there is a growing number of New Zealanders suffering from strokes and other neurological ailments. The consequences these illnesses can have on our livelihood should not be underestimated – they can disrupt our daily patterns and functioning and upset relationships with our family, friends and work colleagues. Living with these unsettling symptoms can be very frustrating and dealing with them on your own can often lead to secondary illnesses such as anxiety and depression.

Improving the health of future cohorts of older people

An ageing population will increase demand pressure on the health system, but the level of this impact will depend on how healthy future cohorts of older people are. As we progress through the epidemiological and disability transitions, it appears that an increasing proportion of frail older people will survive for longer with multi-morbidity and associated disability.

If you feel like your disability is preventing you from leading a normal life then please get in touch with us to see whether our service is something you may benefit from. There is so much more to your condition than you may realise and exercise may just be the solution your body is looking for to get it back on its feet.

Regain your confidence and make positive steps to a healthier you!