Bo Yanik found himself at the doctor’s office asking the question “why do I keep falling?” That was three years ago. Since then his daughters have done a lot of research to try and help this very active man overcome his diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Parkinson’s involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinson’s primarily affects neurons in an area of the brain. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally. Hence is why Bo had a lot of trouble with balance.Bo Yanik found himself at the doctor’s office asking the question “why do I keep falling?” That was three years ago. Since then his daughters have done a lot of research to try and help this very active man overcome his diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Parkinson’s involves the malfunction and death of vital nerve cells in the brain, called neurons. Parkinson’s primarily affects neurons in an area of the brain. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a chemical that sends messages to the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally. Hence is why Bo had a lot of trouble with balance.
So, what is their solution to Bo’s diagnosis? Water therapy. Since his diagnosis, Bo faithfully finds himself in the warm pool at RGS YMCA three days a week. Since he has been attending to the Wet and Sweat class, Janet ( Bo’s wife), Bo’s doctors, and his family have seen noticeable improvements. He hasn’t fallen, he doesn’t lose his balance and he doesn’t shuffle his feet when he walks. Bo does take a daily medication for Parkinson’s but his doctor states that it’s the exercise that is giving him great results.
The best gift that was given to Bo and Janet was the gift of a membership to RGS YMCA. His family thought that this was going to be the best way to get his whole body moving and keep active. His exercising has made it possible for Bo to lead a normal life without restriction. He may have a diagnosis of Parkinson’s but it doesn’t define or limit him. The Parkinson’s works around Bo and his schedule not the other way around.