Improve Parkinson’s Stiff Back and Eye-Tracking Issues With This Seated Noodle Exercise

With Parkinson’s disease, the rib cage gets stiff and flexes forward, causing a lack of rotation in the spine. This stiffness, compounded by the “lats” (the muscles in your back that attach to your arms) getting tethered down, causes difficulty when reaching and straightening your arms. When you can’t rotate in your upper back (thoracic spine), your body will start to compensate by rotating and extending parts of your body that are not meant to rotate. This almost always results in shoulder or back pain.

Furthermore, the eyes may have difficulty tracking a moving or stationary object or finding the next line in a book when reading.

To counteract these issues, improve your range of motion, and reduce pain, try this simple seated exercise that you can do from home. The only “equipment” you will need is a pool noodle cut in half, or two paper towel tubes.

Watch my video below to learn this seated exercise to Improve Parkinson’s Stiff Back and Eye-Tracking Issues:

This exercise is effective because it:

1. Works on sequencing, coordination, and dexterity
2. Improves rotation through the neck and thoracic spine
3. Lengthens tight muscles and connective tissues in your chest, back, and “lats”
4. Mobilizes stuck shoulder blades
5. Engages the core as you sit straight and tall
6. Helps with vision tracking, voice projection, and creative thinking

Follow Rebel Fit volunteer Gail as she shows how she works with our fighters to:

• Sit tall in your chair with both feet flat on the ground.
• With your hands placed in the middle of the noodles, line them up, side by side, lying on your lap.

• Place both noodles on one side of your legs, keeping them parallel to the ground.

• Pushing into the outside of your leg with the back of one hand, slowly lift up the other noodle, keeping it parallel to the ground. Follow the noodle with your eyes as if to “look at your watch.” Say loudly, “What time is it?” and then say a time.

• Bring both noodles back to center.

• Slide the noodles over to the other side of your legs, keeping them parallel to the ground.

• Repeat the exercise on that side.

• Do this 10 times on each side. You can do this many times throughout the day to stay limber.

💜 Coach Kimberly