agewell_summer_fall_2019_compressed

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Parkinson’s
Wellness Program
By: Kevin Bello, Darlene Gonzalez,
Debbie Rivera, and Jonathan Valdez
John Saldano
Approximately 930,000 people will be
diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease by the
year 2020 . Although there are no known
cures for this disease, there are a number
of ways individuals can slow down the
progression of their symptoms. One way is
through physical exercise, which has been
shown to effectively contribute towards
the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease
and can be used as a preventative and
maintenance role in physical fitness and
mental health.
One particular program that is available
to the public is the Parkinson’s Wellness
Program held by PT@ the Beach at
California State University- Long Beach .
Patients have the option of attending either
of the two hourly-long sessions held on
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:00-3:00pm or
3:00-4:00pm. Sessions are held inside the
LifeFit center on campus with a convenient
parking lot in front. Those who choose
16 | AgeWell Long Beach | Summer/Fall 2019
to participate in this program will get a
comprehensive assessment completed
every 6 months to track progress and
set goals. During the session, patients
perform aerobic exercises for 45 minutes
continuously on either a stationary bicycle
or on a treadmill. Patients are encouraged
to attend both sessions per week and the
LifeFit center offers a discounted rate
for spouses to use the equipment in the
facility. For additional information or if you
are interested in getting involved, PT@
theBeach can be contacted at (562)985-
8286 or CHHS-PTBeach@csulb.edu.
We had the opportunity to interview one of
the regular attendees of the program, John
Saldano. John suffers from the early stages
of Parkinson’s Disease and actively seeks
out various ways to treat his illness. He was
kind enough to share some of his personal
experiences with Parkinson’s Disease.