April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, encourage early diagnosis and treatment, and provide support to individuals and families living with the disease. Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects how people move. It can cause tremors, stiffness, slow movement and balance problems. Parkinson’s disease affects nearly 1 million people in the United States, and experts predict that number will grow to 1.2 million by 2030. Every year, around 90,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Thanks to a generous gift to the Blount Memorial Foundation, people in Blount County living with Parkinson’s soon will have access to more support.
Amy Dunaway, executive director of the Blount Memorial Foundation, says this grant will make a real difference. “Some members of our community who care deeply about helping those with Parkinson’s made this grant possible,” Dunaway explained. “With their support, we will train and certify four new instructors in Parkinson Wellness Recovery and the PWR!Moves program. This particular gift was made in honor of Mr. Oliver Kelly Spears III.” PWR!Moves is a program designed to help people with Parkinson’s improve movement and function. Specially trained physical and occupational therapists personalize the exercises to fit each person’s symptoms, helping them stay as active and independent as possible.
In addition to physical challenges, people with Parkinson’s may experience memory issues, trouble sleeping, anxiety, depression, and problems with eating or swallowing. While there is no cure, treatments such as PWR!Moves can make everyday tasks easier and may slow the progression of the disease.
The PWR!Moves exercises are specially designed to strengthen the body and improve balance, flexibility and coordination. They also encourage neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections. This can help people maintain their ability to do everyday activities such as getting out of bed, picking up objects, or getting in and out of a car. Practicing these movements regularly can reduce the risk of falls and improve overall well-being.
“The exercises in PWR!Moves all focus on function to reduce Parkinson’s symptoms and improve mobility. The PWR!Moves method has four main stages: Prepare, Activate, Flows and Boosts. Each stage is designed to help with a specific Parkinson’s symptom. For example, the Prepare stage emphasizes slow, rhythmic movements to decrease the rigidity experienced by many individuals affected by Parkinson’s,” explained Dawn Bannon, one of the newly certified PWR!Moves instructors.
The program also focuses on four main movements. PWR!Up helps with posture, making it easier to stand tall and walk safely. PWR!Rock improves balance by practicing side-to-side movements, which can help people shift their weight with confidence. PWR!Twist enhances flexibility and encourages smoother, more natural movement. Finally, PWR!Step strengthens the legs and improves coordination, making movements such as stepping over objects safer and easier.
Beginning Tuesday, June 3, the PWRMoves! class will meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 9:15 a.m. at the Blount Memorial Wellness Center at Springbrook. “We are excited to bring this level of Parkinson’s-specific support to Blount County, thanks to this grant from the generous donors to the Blount Memorial Foundation,” said Bannon. “All four of our newly PWR!Moves certified instructors have experience in fitness and/or exercise physiology and are looking forward to serving our community with PWR!Moves.”?
For more information about PWR!Moves classes at the Blount Memorial Wellness Center at Springbrook, call 865-980-7100.
