Dr. Jeff Livingston, a retired fetal-medicine doctor, talks with Mike Giardina at the 2022 CrossFit Games about using CrossFit as a way to manage his Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Livingston has had Parkinson’s for 20 years and has been doing CrossFit for the last decade.
Dr. Livingston describes Parkinson’s disease as a horrible disease with a combination of both physical and non-physical components, meaning that it not only affects movement but it also affects mental health. According to Dr. Livingston, the types of exercises that are most effective are those that can be cycled for many reps and those that stimulate a large portion of the nervous system. Parkinson’s Foundation describes key components that an exercise program should include — cardiorespiratory endurance, strength, flexibility, balance, and agility — which are all part of CrossFit’s 10 general physical skills.
Dr. Livingston explains that CrossFit provides primary movement benefits in a very functional way. There are some barriers that will have to be knocked down. People with Parkinson’s disease can be very self-conscious about their movement, and it can be hard to get them in the gym. But once they’re in, explains Dr. Livingston, really good things can happen. The CrossFit community, he adds, provides a lot of secondary benefits, such as reductions in isolation, depression, and anxiety. Dr. Livingston works out twice a day, once at an affiliate and once with his parents, who are 83 and 84 years old. CrossFit is for everyone, he explains — it just needs to be scaled appropriately.
Comments on Dr. Jeff Livingston: Training CrossFit With Parkinson’s Disease
My husband first symptoms of Parkinson’s occurred during covid, but was diagnosed in 2021 when he was 61 years. He was on Levodopa- not crazy about it! he was also on Sifrol and rotigotine not crazy about any of it either, The Levodopa did very little to help him. The medical team did even less. His decline was rapid and devastating. He had a stooped posture, tremors, muscle stiffness and even slow movements. I was a master Gardener and love herbs! This Parkinson’s took my life from me, I was no longer able to work in my garden anymore because I was a full time caregiver for my husband. We stopped most of his Parkinson’s medications due to severe side effects and I started him on Ayurvedic treatments from Natural Herbs Centre naturalherbscentre. com , the treatment has made a very huge difference for him. His symptoms including body weakness, tremors and slurred speech disappeared after few months on the treatment. He is getting active again since starting this treatment, he is able to walk and able to ride his treadmill again.. This Ayurvedic treatment is a miracle!! I recommend researching natural treatment for Parkinson’s disease versus taking the pharmaceutical drugs that only deal with specific symptoms and have damaging side effects to your body.
I love seeing stories like Jeff's and feel confident Crossfit helps to improve people's lives regardless of their situation. I would love to see the benefits of Crossfit with folks with MS as I know several amazing people who can benefit from it.
Hello Jeff. I am 73 and been doing crossfit nearly 13 years. Reading your story is quite encouraging and sets the bar right up where it should be; just within reach. I have been fortunate to enjoy pretty good health with youth sports, for years as a navy pilot and much of life as a runner. Now, having been tested with a couple very minor challenges, they provided me time to reflect on the “what ifs” should I face a challenge such as yours. I have thought many times that regardless of physical or mental obstacles in the future I would do everything possible to set aside any awkwardness in order to be in the gym. You are a perfect example of how to do so. I admire you. I encourage you to keep at it.
Thank you for validating my “what ifs”.
Dave
Thank you for sharing!!! Wow..encouraging & thought provoking for not only Parkinson’s; but thinking of my MS friends! Way to be that pioneer, Dr Jeff!!!!
Dr. Jeff Livingston - Training with Parkinson’s Disease
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