World Parkinson's Day 2023: Wisconsin experts say moving is a must

CUDAHY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- In light of April being National Parkinson’s Awareness Month, and Tuesday, April 11, marking World Parkinson's Day, the Wisconsin Parkinson's Association (WPA) showed CBS 58 how exercise can significantly help improve the quality of life for those who have been diagnosed with the disease.

“Movement is medicine, you know, you don’t have to go to the pharmacy and pick up a bottle of pills, you just have to find a class,” said Mary Wood, community and exercise coordinator at WPA.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects the nervous system. It causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Ron Sherr said he was diagnosed in 2015.

"When the tremors started, I just thought it was part of old age but apparently it wasn’t, it was Parkinson’s," he said. "My father had it, my two uncles had it, so it runs in the family.”

Sherr started coming to these free classes about four years ago. He said because of it, he can go bowling.

"I'm still able to balance myself by throwing the ball," he explained.

Bill Rossi said he noticed a tremor in 2018 and was officially diagnosed in 2020.

"It started in my right arm, then my left arm then my left leg...you're dealing with a lot of embarrassment when you're going out too, so I can see how people kind of limit themselves going out," Rossi said.

According to the Wisconsin Parkinson's Association, more than 15,000 people in the state alone are living with the disease and they want people to know that there are free resources out there.

Wood has been a Parkinson’s-specific instructor since 2009. She said symptoms usually begin gradually and worsen over time -- often times making it difficult to walk and talk.

"Hands down the only way to slow down the progression of Parkinson's is through exercise," she said.

Wood added how Urban Walking Poles have recently been a game changer.

"There's just been a lot of research and studies shown that they help people with Parkinson’s; with balance and posture and just giving them a little more sense of confidence to get out and take walks where they might not normally feel safe," Wood said. 

There is currently no cure for the condition, only certain treatments are available, but experts say moving is a must. 

"It's very important to just...to get out and to do things, don't stay at home and kind of isolate yourself," Rossi said.

The 2023 Parkinson Symposium is scheduled to take place on April 25, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Click here, for more details.