Move with Intent (MI) Program

Empowering You to Thrive with Parkinson's
Starting the Move with Intent (MI) program is a journey designed for people with PD. This program focuses on empowering you, improving mobility, endurance, cognition and overall wellbeing. The MI program is both a health initiative and a social activity.

Purpose:

The MI program is structured to provide an improvement over time (weeks) for a person with PD who is looking for a positive exercise experience, and is willing to try something new. This program uses the power of INTENT (which is available to people with PD) to do something that challenges and promotes positive changes in the body and mind. It includes both individual and group sessions.

What happens in the MI program:

During the program, you will do one MI guided session per week. You should also be doing at least 2 other workout sessions each week on your own or in guided sessions like MSPC HIT and Power gym classes. At each MI session, warm up games, including strength, balance and cognitive challenges, are followed by brisk walking in a positive social environment, then some warm down tasks. You will start slowly with short distances. Over time (weeks), the walking distance and pace will increase, combined with adequate recovery periods. During the initial phase you get to know your group – walking, talking, and encouraging each other. Variety is included through varied locations (e.g beach, hills, forest ) and other activities (e.g Sailability, 10 pin bowling, etc). The use of hiking poles (Nordic walking) is also encouraged as they add coordination, balance, strength and cognitive challenges as well as allowing you to move faster!

Recovery:
Good sleep and adequate recovery time is important between sessions. Listen to what your body is telling you. If you are unwell or exhausted, please skip as many sessions as you need to, to recover fully. This program is intended to improve your health, not make it worse. If you have a virus and associated increase in temperature you should stop all intense and endurance exercise immediately, until fully recovered.

Ready to Take Your First Step?
Contact us today to find out more about the Move with Intent program and how you can get involved.

Email: info@movewithintent.nz  

Important note:
Prior to commencing the program, please complete an assessment by MSPC, or confirm you can safely walk for at least 1 km unaided without undue stress and consult your Doctor if you have any concerns. Please wear suitable footwear, choose weather sensitive comfortable clothing, stay hydrated, and listen to what your body is telling you.

Current Locations and Tracks

Empowering You to Thrive with Parkinsons

Using Consistent, Targeted Exercise, based on Research:

Benefits: There is strong evidence that regular, vigorous exercise can: 

• • Improve Motor Symptoms: Enhance balance, flexibility, gait, and reduce rigidity.

  • Improve Non-Motor Symptoms: Boost mood, improve sleep, and potentially cognitive function.

  • Potentially Slow Functional Decline: While not definitively proven to stop neuronal loss, studies strongly suggest that people with PD who exercise regularly experience a slower decline in motor function and maintain independence longer. Exercise may have neuroprotective effects (protecting remaining brain cells).   

Types: A combination is best: 

• • Aerobic Exercise: (Brisk walking, cycling, swimming, dancing). 

  • Strength Training: (Using weights or resistance bands).

  • Balance & Flexibility: (Tai Chi, yoga, specific balance drills).

Key: Intensity, consistency, and choosing activities you enjoy are crucial for long-term adherence.

References:

Physical Activity modifies the associations between sedentary behaviours and CVD and cancer mortality. These findings emphasise the importance of higher volumes of moderate and vigorous activity to reduce, or even eliminate these risks, especially for those who sit a lot in their daily lives.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/53/14/886.long

Japanese Walking Method:  Is a simple yet effective approach developed by Professor Hiroshi Nose and Professor Shizue Maski from Shinshu University in Japan. Introduced in 2007, their concept involves alternating three minutes of brisk walking with three minutes of slow walking, repeated over a 30-minute session. Brisk walking is at a apec where it is difficult to talk as your body needs your breath. What makes this technique stand out is how it compares to continuous walking. Those who practice this alternating pace show the most impressive improvements in muscle strength, joint flexibility, blood pressure, and overall cardiovascular capacity.

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(11)61303-7/abstract

Parkinsons USA Pole walking
https://www.parkinson.org/blog/awareness/pole-walking

Parkinsons NSW Pole walking
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