Many people with Parkinson’s complain of shoulder pain in addition to their stooped posture. It may seem like these are two different problems, but usually it is a cause-and-effect scenario.

Your shoulder blades should “glide and float” on your rib cage. If you have a stooped posture, your shoulder blades can’t sit or glide normally on the ribs. Your chest muscles become tight and pull the shoulders and arm forward, creating shoulder pain and complications with the rotator cuff muscles.

This “Open a Book” exercise on the foam roller will help correct your posture and shoulder placement.

Hello Fighters,

Whether you have difficulty getting out of a chair or feel like a pro doing a sit-to-stand, everyone needs to work on their form when doing this exercise. This is the number one exercise I prescribe to our fighters to do every day. It shows up in every class we teach, in a variety of formats. However, it must be done correctly and with control. I’m very picky when I’m evaluating people or when we use it in training our fighters.

Hello Everyone,

Want to learn what (I think) is the #1 exercise you should be doing every day to maintain your independence? We don’t want PD to keep you from enjoying your family, friends, and travel. You must “Train to Maintain,” but we also want you to IMPROVE. We can help you with all your Parkinson’s symptoms, including brain neuroplasticity, in one place!!!

Side bending or listing to the side is a common symptom with Parkinson’s. The muscles pull the body to one side, making it hard to walk, sit, drive, breathe, and exercise. This can cause back aches and balance issues. In my boxing classes and Posture School series, we learn how to counteract the compressed side bend by tilting up and over in the opposite direction. You need to give your ribs room to open up. Breathing deeply and intentionally driving that breath to the compressed side will help. It’s important to practice these movements multiple times a day to fight Parkinson’s twisting your connective tissue and bones.