Basic and Advanced Level ResQUp Exercises for Parkinson’s Patients

Parkinson’s patients are particularly prone to falling episodes in their homes. Many times, their falls do not result in injury. Nonetheless, the issue is how to recover from falls independently or with little assistance when they occur without injury.

For each exercise described below, the purpose and key points are relevant to anyone, including individuals with Parkinson’s disease, when using the ResQUp at home and performing upper and lower body strength training. The exercises for Parkinson's patients illustrated below should be performed in the sequence shown but can be isolated to focus on specific areas of weakness or lack of coordination.

Basic Exercises for Parkinson's Patients Needed for Fall Recovery – Focus on Strength and Coordination

Simple exercises can strengthen the upper body and are especially helpful when an individual has significant weakness in the lower extremities. Upper body strength is necessary for coordinating movement while transferring to a wheelchair, getting up from a chair to another assistive device, scooting over to a bed, and other similar tasks.

Exercise 1: Chair to Top Level of ResQUp

• Familiarize oneself with the ResQUp handholds.

• Assess one's ability and strength before moving to Exercise 2.

• Develop Upper & Lower body strength at a position closely aligned to chair height.

• Perform this exercise with the middle & lower levels folded.

Exercise 2: Top Level of ResQUp to Middle Level of ResQUp

• Continue to develop handhold and ResQUp familiarity.

• Incrementally improve confidence moving closer to the floor level & prior to rogressing to Ex#3 (middle level of ResQUp to lower level of ResQUp).

• Improve upper & lower body strength and endurance.

• Perform this exercise with only the middle level deployed (lower level remains under the middle level).

• Complete 3-5 reps comfortably before progressing to Exercise 3.

Exercise 3: Middle Level of ResQUp to Lower Level of ResQUp

• Improve mobility skills, strength, and endurance moving from the middle level of the ResQUp to the lowest level of ResQUp.

• Continue to improve your confidence getting closer to the floor level.

• All levels of the ResQUp are now deployed.

• Complete 3-5 reps comfortably before progressing to Exercise 4.

Exercise 4: Lower Level of ResQUp to Floor Level

• Incrementally improves one’s confidence getting to the floor and then being able to get oneself off the floor should you fall.

• Progressive mobility, strengthening, and endurance training as you negotiate several levels, getting to the floor and back to a chair. This is the first test that a user should attempt to determine if they can use the ResQUp for fall recovery.

• Practice these movements before undertaking Advanced Exercises.

• Additionally, sit on the floor, grasp the lower level of the ResQUp, and extend your elbows. Floor recovery is the reverse motion: The exercise can be progressed by raising your buttocks from the lower level to the middle level, then ascending to the top level using the same motion and finally folding the lower and middle levels before raising yourself to chair height.

Advanced Exercises for Fall Recovery – Focus of Strength and Balance

When seated at the top level of the ResQUp, fold the lower two levels back into the ResQUp. If you have sufficient leg strength, you may be able to stand up directly from the top level of the ResQUp. Some individuals may need to transition from a top-level ResQUp to a standard-height chair to stand. ***Never stand on ResQUp***

Exercise 1: Lower Level Glute Raise (Bridging)

• Strengthens the buttocks (glutei), back extensors, and core muscles.

• Core, buttocks, and back extensors are essential muscles for trunk stability.

• Feet can be placed on the lower level or the middle levels

Exercise 2: Lower Level Push-Up (Knees - easier)

• Perform a push-up while on your knees to strengthen your upper back muscles (Serratus Anterior and Scapular stabilizers).

• When performed on the middle level, you are in a less horizontal position. Performing on the lower level of the ResQUp places more body weight on your upper body, as demonstrated in exercise #6.

• This exercise can be progressed with knees off the floor (Exercise 3).

Exercise 3: Middle Level Push-Up (Toes – harder)

• Increased body weight is placed on the arms with your knees fully extended. This is a progression of exercise from Exercise 2 - knee push-up on lower or middle levels.

• Strengthens the Upper back muscles (Serratus Anterior and Scapular stabilizers).

• DO NOT perform this exercise on the top level of the ResQUp due to a possible tipping hazard.

Exercise 4: Middle Level Leg Extension - Hip Extension with Upper Body Weight Bearing

• Extending your leg up against gravity while in a push-up position will strengthen your lower back muscles (multifidus) and your buttocks (glutarals). Start at the middle level.

• Progressing to the lower level of the ResQUp places the body in a more horizontal position and a higher level of difficulty.

• Alternate legs.

• DO NOT perform this exercise on the top level of the ResQUp due to a possible tipping hazard.

Exercise 5: Middle Level Leg Extension – Hip Abduction with Side Planking

• Strengthens the shoulder (Scapular Stabilizers) and outer hip muscles (gluteus medius).

• Strengthens the core musculature if the body is held in a straight alignment.

• Raising the leg against gravity isolates the outer hip muscles (gluteus medius), which are important stabilizers of the pelvis in standing and walking.

• Alternate sides.

• DO NOT perform this exercise on the top level of the ResQUp due to a possible tipping hazard.