Man with Parkinson ‘s curbs symptoms with exercise regimen

PHOENIX -

This month is national Parkinson's Awareness Month and one valley man dealing with the disease is using exercise as a way to help curb some of the symptoms.

Brian Baehr begins his morning like many, with a workout. His son Matt, a personal trainer, leads him through a series of exercises to help strengthen his balance, core muscles and overall mental wellness.

Fitness has always been a priority to the Baehr family, but it's on the top of their list after Brian was diagnosed with Parkinson's six years ago at the age of 47.

"Four years ago it was still early in the Parkinson's awareness community that exercise was so good for you. It was known, it was understood, but it was a little early," said Brian Baehr.

At the time, Matt was studying kinesiology at ASU. Through the research he was doing, he recognized the benefits exercise would have on his dad's challenges with Parkinson's.

"I felt powerless and I wanted to help and at first there's not much you can do. That's half of what drove me so crazy, I couldn't help my dad and that was unacceptable to me," Matt Baehr. "He and I worked on a couple of workout routines and got more disciplined with my exercise and I felt better."

His routine consists of yoga, weights and cardio. Each movement is meant to strengthen his core and improve his balance, all of which helps him counteract the symptoms of the disease. He also has a regime of a medication and acupuncture.

"I couldn't stop any one of the three without a material kind of downslide with my condition," said Brian Baehr.

Their love for fitness was the springboard to do more and four years ago Matt spear headed a fundraiser and rallied his friends and clients to a Saturday of fitness.

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Man with Parkinson 's curbs symptoms with exercise regimen