Anxiety and digestive issues are both common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s caused by changes in brain chemistry. Up to 40 percent of people with PD will experience some form of anxiety, while 70 to 80 percent will experience gastrointestinal issues.

Do you get really stiffened up by morning? Most people do, with or without Parkinson’s. If you have PD, you may have a bit of time before your first dose of medication takes effect. Of course, it’s easier to move during your medication’s “on” period, but you can use this waiting time to do some easy stretches.

Stretching and moving first thing in the morning makes it easier to get around the rest of the day. More importantly, it could prevent an accidental fall when you stand up or start to walk.

This week, I am showing you how to loosen up your hip joints and release muscles and soft tissue that becomes “boggy” in the joint and surrounding area. If you missed parts one through four of my bed stretches series, the video links are at the bottom of this article!

Whether you have Parkinson’s or arthritis, if your hands become stiff, every task takes longer, and it really affects your quality of life.

A fighter came to me during class and said, “Kimberly, my hand is starting to curl up, and it’s getting harder to open it.” I noticed his thumb joint was curling inward. This can be a common problem with Parkinson’s. Fortunately, there are exercises you can do every day to counteract the tightening of the palm side and strengthen the back extensor muscles so that you can open your hand more easily.

When you have Parkinson’s, it’s easy to let your symptoms tell you that today is not a good day to exercise and let apathy set in. The truth is, every day you can do something and get over that hump or hurdle that stands between you and your workout. Even if it’s an injury, you can modify your workout, but getting started is a mental game.

People with Parkinson’s often develop stooped posture because of the neurological forward pulling and muscle tightening of the chest and shoulders. As a result, the back muscles become weak, and the shoulder blades become fixed and displaced. This whole process causes pain, breathing and swallowing difficulty, and balance issues.