The Coronavirus pandemic has required that we all stay at home a lot. And it is hard to participate in a group activity such as an exercise class in your own home. But thanks to the internet, the world can seem a lot smaller than it actually is, and that closeness can make exercising at home a real option. There are a number of Parkinson’s-specific exercise instructors who charge for their online services (as is appropriate if they are not separately funded). But since people with PD have limited funds, I am going to mention only those that are free.

So you have heard about the Parkinson Foundation recommendations for exercise. You know you need to do Parkinson-specific exercise. But how do you know which exercise class offers a PD-specific workout? Now the Parkinson Foundation (a national organization whose mission is to improve care for people with Parkinson’s and to advance research toward a cure) has started its program to accredit programs that train exercise instructors in PD-specific methods. Of the first three programs that achieved this accreditation, two are available in our area.