Simulation shows effects of Parkinson's Disease

June 18, 2010

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DailyCamera - When Brown is walking, he sometimes feels as if one of his

legs is suddenly glued to the ground. Rocking back and forth might gets his leg

moving again, but sometimes only sheer concentration will get him going.

Sudden difficulty moving a limb, known as " freezing, " is a common symptom for

people, like Brown, who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

To help people understand the daily battles of the more than 17,000 Parkinson's

sufferers in the Rocky Mountain region, the Parkinson Association of the Rockies

set up simulations Wednesday on Boulder's Pearl Street Mall.

Participants walked across a partially filled air mattress with three-pound

weights on their ankles, navigated a Velcro carpet in Velcro boots, and wrote

with a vibrating pen.

" To try it out and then get out is easy, " said Sarson, a Boulder

mediator who tried the simulation on his lunch break. " But to live with it day

after day after day must be hard. "

The goal of the simulation is to bring awareness about Parkinson's to the public

and to show those diagnosed that help is available, said Rick Schwartz, the

association's board president.

The association offers support groups for patients and family members, equipment

loans, educational materials and exercise classes. New research suggests that

exercise can help slow the symptoms of Parkinson's, which currently has no cure.

" I'm convinced I'd be in a wheelchair if I hadn't exercised all those years, "

said Schwartz, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago.

Exercise helps patients feel stronger, have more muscle control and stretch

tight muscles, a common symptom of Parkinson's, said Brown, who was diagnosed

with Parkinson's six years ago.

Brown became involved with the Parkinson Association of the Rockies shortly

after being diagnosed. He said he found that association members deal with the

disease with " patience, confidence and a sense of hope. "

The association — which is hosting its eighth annual Shake, Rattle and Stroll

walk Sunday in Denver — provides free yoga classes for its members and plans to

start tango classes.

" We have a saying in Parkinson's, " said Sobol, a Parkinson's sufferer and

association member. " Keep moving. "

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