Core Principle #3 – FREQUENCY
The F.I.T.T principle is something everyone should consider when designing an exercise program.
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type
These 4 principles are even more important when it comes to exercise for Parkinson’s Disease. Arguably none more so than Frequency.
Because of the damage to the Basal Ganglia, Parkinson’s patients will experience a decreased carry over from one exercise session to the next in terms of memory of choreography, progressions in complexity, and skill acquisition. This means it is vital to do at least some exercise every day.
This may sound daunting but remember we are after quality not quantity in your exercise sessions. So 20 minutes of maximal effort challenging exercise every day is much more valuable than 2 or 3 sessions per week that an hour in duration.
With that in mind:
1. What are the strategies you are using to ensure you are keeping your frequency of exercise high.
2. What are the barriers you face in maintaining this frequency?
Time. I work 3 days a week, have a young daughter and cannot work out in the afternoon as meds are less effective. I like to exercise in the morning when my first dose of medication kicks in but this is an hour after taking them, I can only get up so early.
[This is intended as a comment on Jason’s post about Frequency. For some reason it appears under two posts about Warrior Spirit Awards…]
Jason, when you write ‘So 20 minutes of maximal effort challenging exercise every day is much more valuable than 2 or 3 sessions per week that an hour in duration’ that hits a spot I am struggling with. After ten weeks I am not fluent in most of the exercises, meaning a lot of attention goes to for example keeping my balance; and that prevents me from reaching 80% effort. So in an exercise session of one hour, I will work maybe 15 minutes at high effort.
Let me take Heisman as an example. I intend to do it as demonstrated, but struggle a lot with keeping my balance, at the expense of intensity. I can stay on my two feet and make the arm movements more powerful, but then I feel I miss out on the knee lift which I want to master…
Any thoughts?