What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that affects about 1 million Americans. Each person experiences Parkinson’s in different ways, but some of the common symptoms include tremors, slowness of movement, limb rigidity and gait or balance problems. This progressive disease presents many challenges for patients and their caregivers, but there are ways to manage it. Through a combination of the right medications, complementary therapies and exercise, patients can slow the progression and enhance their quality of life.

Improving quality of life for Parkinson's Patients

This is exactly what the new Delay the Disease exercise class at Aultman West hopes to provide to people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Through twice-weekly exercise classes that combine movement and balance training, certified Delay the Disease trainers work to help patients slow the progression of the disease and improve their movement and balance.

Delay the Disease is a community-based program that was developed in Columbus through a partnership with OhioHealth. Four therapists from Aultman West received their certification to teach the Delay the Disease class.

Feb. 27 was a special day for the Delay the Disease class: one of the founders of Delay the Disease came up from Columbus to teach the class himself. David Zid, director of movement disorders and musculoskeletal wellness at OhioHealth Delay the Disease, has been an instructor, researcher and advocate for Parkinson’s patients for years.

Several of the participants and certified trainers were happy to talk about their experiences with the new class. Marlana, who is affected by non-Parkinson’s tremors, joined the class to see if it could help her regain the use of her right hand for writing. She said she has not been able to write her signature for two years. Marlana feels like this class will be good for her. “I would encourage anyone to do this,” she said.

Bill was new to the class on Feb. 27. After his diagnosis in August 2017, he went through 16 sessions of an individual therapy offered at Aultman West called LSVT BIG. He was looking for something to help him transition from that therapy when he heard the Aultman therapists talking about the new Delay the Disease class on WHBC. Bill is happy that this new class incorporates some of the same movements from his former therapy, and hopes it will help him keep building on what he has already accomplished.

Therapists Chrissy and Laura decided to become certified Delay the Disease trainers because they saw a need in the community. Chrissy was impressed with the success she saw in the Delay the Disease videos. Both agreed that this class could go a long way in preventing falls.

Classes started on Feb. 6 and will run for 12 weeks. The cost of the 12-week session is $119, but people who join later in the session will pay a prorated rate. Classes are not covered by insurance, and are open to anyone in the community with Parkinson’s disease. For more information about the Delay the Disease class, or to sign up, please call 330-363-6181.