Prince DeesePrince Deese, an All American Wrestler, a Hall of Fame Football Player, and a State Champion Body Builder, is a certified personal trainer and strength conditioning specialist. Prince Deese and Gina Deese own A.C.T. by Deese, a Fitness & Training Center in Greensboro, NC.
According to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, there are about 1.5 million people in the United States who suffer from Parkinson’s. Almost two percent of Americans over 60 and nearly five percent over 85 suffer from Parkinson’s symptoms. One of these people is Mary, a Greensboro resident, who was diagnosed with the disease four years ago.
Mary’s symptoms were common to Parkinson’s sufferers…tremors, stiffness, and loss of balance that threatened all daily activities which required movement. But, with her daughter’s support and the open mindedness of her physician to alternative treatment, Mary found a way to stave-off the progression of the dreaded debilitating symptoms.
Mary’s regular visits to the neurologist were combined with weekly acupuncture with Dr. Aki Gido of High Point. At the same time, she began a regimen of exercise under the supervision of Prince Deese at A.C.T. Fitness Studio in Greensboro. Working in unison, the three approaches presented positive results, encouraging Mary’s physician to recommend a continuation of the program.
Mary is faithful to her program and dutifully continues her treatment on a regular basis. Her advice to all those who suffer from any symptom of the disease, “You have to keep on because, if you stop, you go back to where you began. Good physical condition is the foundation to building your health.”
There is a lesson for all seniors in Mary’s story. Medical care and personal determination go hand-in-hand in helping seniors maintain a productive and active lifestyle. Exercise programs are an essential part of health care to off-set the impact of common aging problems, whether it be Parkinson’s, diabetes, arthritis, dementia, depression, claudication (leg cramps), or the many other handicapping conditions that are common to seniors.