4 minute read
CANNABIS + PARKINSON’S + THE GREAT OUTDOORS
BY BEN OWENS
One of the most notable effects of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is its impact upon mobility and muscle control. Impeded mobility can make daily activities difficult, especially those involving physical activity and exertion. A lack of physical ability—or of confidence in one’s physical ability—can reduce the amount of time enjoyed in the great outdoors. Studies are showing that time spent training the body through cues and coaching can help to overcome mobility issues, resulting in more time outdoors. Studies are also showing time spent outdoors leads to a lower risk of Parkinson’s and can result in improved quality of life for those living with the disease. Programs such as ParkFit have been developed as part of research studies aimed at showing how treatment programs can help PD patients get outside and stay active. Cannabis has also been shown to help with symptom management, helping to ease patients who have been sedentary into a more active lifestyle, allowing for more outdoor activities.
PARKINSON’S EFFECT ON DAILY LIFE
Two of the most incapacitating symptoms of PD are gait and mobility problems, which are often difficult to treat. 1 In spite of the potential benefits, many PD patients do not meet recommended levels of physical activity, largely as a result of these issues. 2 “Higher age, being female, and lower physical capacity were the most important determinants of reduced daily physical activity.” 3 Studies have also found a greater sense of autonomy as well as stronger physical performance was correlated with maintaining mobility as we age. 4 It is then reasonable to surmise that impeded mobility in PD patients could create a cyclical situation in which mobility impedes autonomy and physical performance, further impeding mobility and thereby continuing to lower quality of life.
THE SCIENCE ON PARKINSON’S, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS
While more men are diagnosed with PD than women, and the fatality rate for males is higher, the working conditions in many male-dominated jobs can also prove beneficial to reducing the risk of PD. 3,5,6 Due to the nature of the working conditions, these jobs also require men to work outdoors more, exposing them to more sunlight, which could help to lower their risk of Parkinson’s. Sunlight is the main contributor of vitamin D in humans, and “Inadequate levels of vitamin D have been linked to increased risks for neurodegenerative diseases.” 6 In studying this relationship, researchers found that men who work outdoors are at a lower risk for PD, likely a result of increased exposure to vitamin D.
Additionally, freezing of gait (FOG) is a common condition of PD, and when combined with complex transfers and movements such as walking through doorways, rising up out of a chair, or turning over, may be among the most limiting aspects of mobility. 7 Researchers are finding aspects that trigger FOG or other mobility symptoms are not as impactful in natural environments, suggesting a biophilic reaction. Patients who experienced freezing when walking through man-made or “built” elements did not experience similar triggers or freezing when passing through natural openings and hedges, reiterating the necessity for a biophilic environment for people with PD. 8
Studies on cueing therapy, or the use of rhythmic stimuli to cue certain behavior actions, find cueing could help PD patients overcome FOG and mobility issues. One study examined a multimodal cueing device which allowed patients to choose a cue that was a desirable totem, and use it to navigate through situations where they would otherwise freeze, fall, or succumb to mobility issues. During treatment, patients saw an improvement in overall mobility but that improvement decreased over time once the cues ceased, suggesting that regular cueing could help patients overcome daily hindrances. 1
These types of ongoing treatments and studies on programmatic efforts to manage and delay symptom onset have also lent themselves to the idea of coaching as a way to overcome daily challenges to be active and get outdoors. ParkFit is one of the largest of such studies, observing nearly 600 patients over a two-year period. 9 Daily physical activity was compared with a 30-minute activity guideline, and 92% of the sample spent 98% of their day on “sedentary to light-intensity” activities. 2 ParkFit was developed using behavioral motivation techniques to encourage increased physical activity. Evaluations of the program found the program was effective in almost all subgroups at promoting physical fitness and led to more time spent on outdoor activities. 10-12
CANNABIS, PARKINSON’S, AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS
As has been discussed at length in this issue, cannabis has been shown to be effective at helping to manage the symptoms associated with PD, including spasticity, tremors, and muscle cramps that can lead to mobility issues, FOG, and decreased quality of life. Cannabis’ anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties make it a promising complementary option for programs such as ParkFit, helping to ease PD patients into new activities at new intensity levels. Cannabis can also help with the social anxiety that might accompany overcoming physical impediments. It is important to remain cautious when using cannabis in unfamiliar settings, especially if you’re new to the effects of cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Talk with your physician about ways cannabis and the great outdoors may be able to help improve your physical fitness and increase the amount of time you spend enjoying outdoor activities.
