[re+think]

Can exercise improve thinking and memory? The short answer is yes!   Research has shown exercise to improve executive functioning, memory, problem solving, vision and perception—this list goes on and on!   So, if you are like me, and sometimes don’t feel as sharp as you used to (this happened to me after having kids)—exercise is a great way to sharpen your mind. But, what we really want to know is the how exercise can do such a thing, and then get to the nuts and bolts of how do we harness this power of exercise? First, how does it work?   I want to give you three simple ways that has been show in research in Parkinson's Disease and other disorders such as Alzheimer’s: 1) Increased brain blood flow and health 2) Altered dopamine and glutamate neurotransmission (our key messengers in the brain)!   3) Increased number of brain connections Now the nuts and bolts:   how do you do this? Again—I like things in groups of threes—so here you go: It takes a b

So you want to get a better night's rest? Stress Free Mattress Shopping by Chelsey Brown, SPT USC DPT Class of 2017 image source:  http://sleepdelivered.com/best-mattress-for-back-pain-buy-online/ "I am not sleeping well; maybe it’s my position, my mattress or even my pillow?  I want something healthy for my back but I am overwhelmed by the information."   Does this sound like you? Then you have come to the right place. We are going to spend the next few paragraphs outlining 1) why a good mattress is needed, 2) the levels of firmness and 3) the pros and cons of different mattress types to equip you for a more informed mattress-shopping extravaganza. Why a good mattress? : Let’s first think about the benefits of having a good mattress.  They can be expensive but they are also a crucial foundation to facilitate your sleep and restfulness.  As your MD, PT or friends have probably told you, we all have natural spine curvature.  So, f

The entire [re+active] team got together last week to share our passion about exercise!  About 8000 people were reached throughout Facebook Live videos and our live exercise class.  How awesome is that!?  In our ideal world, many lives would be changed by using exercise as a potent medication to  manage the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.  In order to make the educational videos more accessible--we wanted to put them in one place so you can have easy access.  Let's start with the Top 5 reasons to use exercise as medicine in PD:  #5: Exercise helps with constipation!  I know so many people that are on all kinds of different medications to help with constipation--let's just take the natural remedy--exercise.  Dr. Chelsea Duncan shares about how this helps.  #4: Exercise helps you sleep better.  Yikes--I know that I need this! Dr. Erin Caudill explains about the importance of sleep and how it is improved with exercise.  #3: Exercise gives you energy.