How to Use Your Noodle to Improve Parkinson’s Upper Back Rotation

With Parkinson’s disease, the upper back gets really rigid and stiff. This rigidity, compounded by forward rounding, prevents it from rotating correctly. As a result, the lower back (designed to stabilize, not rotate) must take over, leading to lower back pain. Using pool noodles, this seated exercise can help treat upper back rotation.

This exercise also:

1. Facilitates sequencing, coordination, and dexterity.
2. Improves rotation through the neck and thoracic spine.
3. Strengthens the middle back and posterior shoulder, and encourages shoulder blade mobility.
4. Engages your core as you sit straight and tall.
5. Helps with eye-tracking movements.

Watch the video below on how you can use pool noodles to improve your upper back mobility:

Here are the instructions to do this exercise. All you need is a chair and a pool noodle cut in half.

• Sit tall in your chair, with your feet flat on the ground.
• Hold the pool noodles in the middle and line them up together in front of you.

• Keeping one elbow straight, rotate your ribcage as you bend the opposite elbow and pull back the noodle.

• Keep rotating your ribs, pushing out one arm and pulling back the other until the two noodles are no longer touching. The end of the noodle will slide under your arm. Exhale while rotating.
• Turn and look at the elbow pointing backward, without turning your knees or rotating in your chair.

• Return to the starting position and repeat on the opposite side.
• Do this 10 times on each side. You can do this many times throughout the day to stay limber.
• If you can’t rotate very far or look back, just do what you can and keep at it! Your rotation will improve over time.

It’s a great exercise to add to your daily stretch routine.

💜 Coach Kimberly

P.S. Our Virtual Posture School is now in session!

Do you want to be a part of our Posture School, but live too far away to come to the Rebel Fit Club? Not a problem—we have Virtual Posture School!

There are many benefits to taking Posture School virtually:

• Classes are taught in an easy, step-by-step, building block process.
• You get a new workout five days a week for five weeks—that equals 25 workouts!
• You get to do it in your own home, so no need to miss out because you live too far away.
• You can ask a loved one to join you in the workouts.
• Workouts are recorded, so you pick the time of day that’s most convenient for you.
• You can also go back to previous workouts if one feels especially helpful.

** This course is for people who can get up and down from the ground easily and independently. If you are at high risk for falls, ask about our seated version of Posture School.

The introductory price for Virtual Posture School is just $49! Click here to purchase.