Living Large: Exercises That Train the Brain.

Last month's post came from the heart, with some gentle reminders to keep up your exercise routine during the Thanksgiving Holiday. If you missed that post and the message from your LifeCare Therapy Team, you can view it here. This month, we're back to talking about what we do best: exercise! This post focuses on a specific exercise technique called high-amplitude exercise.

What Are High-Amplitude Exercises?

High-amplitude exercises emphasize exaggerated, large-scale movements performed with high intensity and low repetition. They are oversized movements that you do as big and with as much intensity as you can, as if you are trying to leap over a giant hole in the floor when you take a step or touch a star in the sky when you reach upward. The size and intensity of the movement are what matter. Why? In many neurological conditions, including Parkinson's Disease (PD), Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), Lewy Body Dementia, and others, our movements tend to become slower (bradykinesia) and smaller, or exhibit reduced amplitude (hypokinesia). There is a lot of science behind the exercises, but they basically work on the concept that our brains have neuroplasticity and can not only learn, but learn again in different ways.

Here are the key principles that make high-amplitude exercises succeed:

Exaggeration: Movements are performed much larger than normal.

Multidirectional: Exercises involve forward, backward, and sideways motions.

Repetition: Frequent practice reinforces motor learning.

Cueing: Verbal cues (“BIG!”) or loud counting are used to maintain amplitude.

The Basic Exercises

1. Sit-to-Stand

   • Sit tall in a chair, feet wide.

   • Stand up with exaggerated arm reach overhead.

   • Repeat 10–15 times.

2. Step and Reach

   • Step forward with a wide stride.

   • Reach arms forward and open fingers fully.

   • Alternate legs for 10–15 repetitions.

3. Side Steps

   • Step sideways with a large stride.

   • Swing arms outward, keeping posture tall.

   • Repeat 10 steps each direction.

4. Arm Swings

   • March in place, swinging arms high and wide.

   • Count loudly with each step.

5. Voice Exercise

   • Practice speaking or counting in a loud, clear voice while moving.

   • Reinforces both vocal amplitude and motor amplitude.

Tips for Success

Be an Active Participant

This is big stuff you are working on: you are building new mind-body connections, and this can't be done while watching TV. Put your heart and mind into the movements, and try to do them as often as you can.

You can turn everyday tasks into high-amplitude exercise moments by exaggerating your movements, adding rhythm, and using your voice—making them both therapeutic and fun. Think of it as “living large” while doing what you already do. Here are creative, practical ways to sneak Living Large movements into your routine:

• Walk big to the kitchen or march from room to room

• Brush your teeth with big movements

• Take big side steps between your favorite chair and the couch

• Reach high before you brush your hair

• Count aloud with your strongest voice as you take your steps

• Add music, chase your spouse (kidding folks!), and just make it fun

  
  

We joke about exercise but it is one of the most effective nonpharmacological treatments for progressive neurological diseases, for recovery and for your health. Talk to your therapist about these exercises and others that can help.

Our very best wishes to each of you for the holidays.

... don't forget to exercise