Mission
Exercise has the potential to significantly change the course of life for a person with Parkinson’s. Decades of scientific research have shown that exercise can reduce symptoms and may help slow disease progression. At Parkinson’s Place Iowa, we are committed to helping people with Parkinson’s understand not only the importance of exercise, but also how to exercise effectively to achieve meaningful results.
Exercise has the potential to significantly change the course of life for a person with Parkinson’s. Decades of scientific research have shown that exercise can reduce symptoms and may help slow disease progression. At Parkinson’s Place Iowa, we are committed to helping people with Parkinson’s understand not only the importance of exercise but also how to exercise effectively to achieve meaningful results.
Through the work of our founder and president, award-winning author Kristine Meldrum, Parkinson’s Place Iowa has helped bring evidence-based Parkinson’s exercise education to people throughout Iowa and around the world. Her award-winning book, Parkinson’s: How to Reduce Symptoms Through Exercise, has become a trusted resource recommended by leading Parkinson’s experts and healthcare professionals.
In 2024, with the support of generous donors, Parkinson’s Place Iowa distributed books to more than 50 Parkinson’s support groups across Iowa. These resources are helping individuals and care partners better understand how exercise can be used to reduce symptoms, preserve function, and maintain independence.
Our next initiative is to place Parkinson’s exercise education resources directly into neurology offices across Iowa, ensuring that people with Parkinson’s have access to evidence-based information as early as possible following diagnosis. By putting these resources into the hands of patients and their care teams, we can help more people take an active role in managing their disease and improving their quality of life.
Brain & Body is a Parkinson’s-specific exercise program designed to help participants address the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease while fostering a supportive community environment. The class promotes connection, encouragement, and camaraderie among participants.
Each session incorporates brief periods of high-intensity aerobic exercise followed by Parkinson’s-specific task training, including core stability, strength training, dual-task activities, cognitive challenges, fine motor exercises, and balance training. Activities are adapted to provide an appropriate level of challenge for individuals across a wide range of functional abilities.
As discussed earlier, the Brain & Body class uses short bursts of aerobic exercise to activate the brain before transitioning into Parkinson’s-specific training. This approach makes Brain & Body an excellent complement to programs with a greater emphasis on sustained aerobic exercise, such as Neuro Cycle, treadmill and . Together, these programs can help individuals create a more balanced and comprehensive Parkinson’s exercise plan.
Parkinsonsplaceiowa