Which condition is a contraindication to exercise in Parkinson's disease?

Which condition is a contraindication to exercise in Parkinson's disease?

• A. Mild tremor.
• B. Severe freezing or instability without supervision.
• C. Good coordination.
• D. Slow but steady movement.

Answer: (B)

Safety during exercise is the focus when working with Parkinson's disease. Exercise helps motor function and overall health, but certain conditions raise the risk of injury. Severe freezing of gait or instability signals a high fall risk, especially if there is no supervision. In that situation, a person may suddenly freeze or lose balance during movements and be unable to recover, leading to a fall. A supervised program provides cueing, support, and the ability to modify activities quickly if a freezing episode occurs, making it much safer to proceed. Therefore, this condition is a contraindication to unsupervised exercise. The other signs—mild tremor, good coordination, and slow but steady movement—do not by themselves prevent safe exercise and can be managed with proper guidance and safety measures.

Safety during exercise is the focus when working with Parkinson's disease. Exercise helps motor function and overall health, but certain conditions raise the risk of injury. Severe freezing of gait or instability signals a high fall risk, especially if there is no supervision. In that situation, a person may suddenly freeze or lose balance during movements and be unable to recover, leading to a fall. A supervised program provides cueing, support, and the ability to modify activities quickly if a freezing episode occurs, making it much safer to proceed. Therefore, this condition is a contraindication to unsupervised exercise. The other signs—mild tremor, good coordination, and slow but steady movement—do not by themselves prevent safe exercise and can be managed with proper guidance and safety measures.