Parkinson’s Disease

Movement Revolution is the preeminent destination for Parkinson’s disease exercise in Chicago. Our Exercise Specialists learn from and work with Neurologists, Physical Therapists, Speech Pathologists, and Occupational Therapists to develop the most collaborative, community-based exercise programs. We meld years of research and innovative techniques to deliver the best, most comprehensive and beneficial exercise programs for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Owner Eric Johnson has worked for 6 years developing and teaching exercise programs for people with Parkinson’s at the #1 rehabilitation hospital in the country. He has used this experience to develop a comprehensive symptom-specific exercise program for people with Parkinson’s disease. Each Exercise Specialist on staff have multiple Parkinson’s exercise certifications, including Rock Steady Boxing, Delay the Disease, Amplitude Based Training, Certified PWR! Instructor (Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery), and Functional Movement Systems. We utilize the tools learned from these courses to build the most beneficial program specifically for each client.

We are your Parkinson’s exercise specialists. Our trainers are Rock Steady Boxing Coaches, PWR! Moves Instructors, and Delay the Disease certified. Our comprehensive model blends the philosophies from all these programs to deliver results. Each program is built to combat the individual symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Our programs have been proven the help reduce falls, improve balance, strength, gait (walking), and improve quality of life.

• Personal Training
• Vim & Vigor
• Rock Steady Boxing Windy City
• Neuro Fight Club

Our Parkinson’s disease personal training programs are proven to deliver results through a goal-oriented, outcome-based, and fun exercise routines. Each personalized exercise program is built to combat the individual symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Our model blends the philosophies and principles from several exercise programs, some PD-specific, and some not.

Small group exercise classes provide a great balance of personalization, affordability, and camaraderie. Our groups consist of 4-6 participants and are grouped by ability level and primary symptoms. By grouping this way, we ensure that every client can benefit from each session. Each participant will receive a screening to appropriately place them in a class.

1:1 and Small Group programs focus on symptom specific exercise for Parkinson’s and use research supported practices including:

• Boxing for Parkinson’s disease
• Delay the Disease
• Amplitude Based Training
• Flexibility
• Treadmill Training, etc.

Clinical research shows that certain types of exercise, when performed consistently, with high physical effort may have the ability to create brain change (neuroplasticity). We utilize a variety of exercise modalities that have been proven to help slow the progression of the disease including: cardiovascular treadmill training, bicycling, swimming, amplitude based movements, PWR, boxing, strengthening, balance, and Tai Chi.

Movement Revolution’s Neuro Intensive Exercise method is designed around this principle of intensity. Every client has a different level of intensity depending on their age, ability level, exercise history, ect. We establish each client’s level by conducting a thorough initial evaluation that will look at medical history, cardiovascular endurance, strength, flexibility, motor control, and cognitive acuity; we will also speak with their Neurologist or physical therapist if they’ve recently been seen. Each workout is built with in the safe parameters established in their evaluation which allows us to tap into the Neuroplasticity effect and help slow the progression of symptoms.

Exercise programs are designed to combat these common symptoms with Parkinson’s disease:

• Rigidity
• Bradykinesia
• Freezing
• Postural Instability
• Dystonia
• Tremors
• Voice/Speech
• Cognitive Acuity