Swimming and Parkinson’s

Every year, my family travels up north to enjoy a week-long vacation on a Michigan lake. Historically, we’ve travelled to the lapping waves of Lake Huron to freeze our toes in the water. This year, we’re headed to an inland lake with safer beaches and an easier water access than the rocky shores of Lake Huron provide.

The decision was partially made out of necessity. My Grandma is nearly 90. And my dad’s Parkinson’s is progressing. He’s still very independent and determined to accomplish his day-to-day tasks on his own. But when it comes to swimming in a large body of water, we can’t help but worry about his ability to stay safe.

A form of exercise

Using swimming for exercise and physical therapy in people with Parkinson’s seems to be a popular strategy. Being able to operate without q fear of falling provides an environment that’s not only potentially safer, but it also allows participants to tone and strengthen their muscles.¹

In the same way that boxing and dancing can help slow the progression of Parkinson's, so does swimming. But there’s also evidence that suggests that there’s risk associated with swimming with Parkinson’s disease.

Risk of drowning

I recently found a study about compromised swimming abilities in people with Parkinson’s. While most people will tell you that the exercise that’s provided by swimming laps in a pool is phenomenal for maintaining aerobic fitness, it’s a little bit tricky to assess the safety of swimming for those with compromised abilities.²

It still appears to be true that swimming can help anyone to maintain physical fitness. But one thing that Parkinson’s patients commonly struggle with is maintaining that horizontal shape above the water. Because of this, they are at a higher risk of drowning than non-Parkinson’s patients.²

Additionally, one case report documents a patient who had difficulty swimming after undergoing deep brain stimulation, which my dad did back in the Fall of 2019. It remains to be seen whether this surgery could impact one’s ability to swim. But, it may be a little bit more dangerous for a Parkinson’s patient to enter a large body of water than a non-Parkinson’s patient.³

Staying safe during vacation

Still, with the looming lake vacation, I can’t help but wonder about the best way to keep my dad safe. Will he be adequately protected if he uses a noodle while in the water? Would a life jacket provide a better way to guarantee his safety? Or do we need to keep tabs on him to make sure he doesn’t wander out too far?

My Dad has been a water bug for his entire life, and I can’t imagine him accepting the idea that the water might not be safe for him anymore. And I’m not sure how to begin to have such a difficult conversation. It seems as if there’s always a difficult conversation to be had while navigating Parkinson’s disease.