Physical activity and exercise in people with Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is currently recognized as one of the greatest challenges in neurology, with a growing impact on global public health due to its increasingly high prevalence, especially in aging populations. Various epidemiological studies show that between 1980 and 2023, there was a substantial increase in the worldwide prevalence of this disease, related to factors such as population aging and changes in socio-environmental patterns. Population studies show that physically active individuals have a significantly lower risk of developing the disease, with a similar effect for different weekly patterns of physical activity. For people already diagnosed, regular structured physical activity, such as walking, dancing, strength training, yoga, or water aerobics, promotes improvements in motor symptoms (strength, balance, gait, and reduced falls) and non-motor symptoms (mood, cognition, and fatigue), as well as greater functional independence and social integration.