Fitness coach offers free exercise for Parkinson's

An exercise specialist is running free fitness classes for people with Parkinson's disease after his own mum was diagnosed six years ago.

Nearly 170,000 people in the UK are thought to have Parkinson's, a progressive neurological condition that impacts an individual's mobility, speech, focus, sleep and independence.

Alastair Macfarlane, from Portishead, has started running free classes at Southmead Hospital for people with the condition.

"Exercise makes a real impact and difference," he said. "With Parkinson's, there is no cure. The best thing that can be done is exercise."

He said his mother, Anne, continues to inspire him.

"It gives me more drive and passion to do what I do," he said.

Macfarlane said exercise had been shown to be very beneficial in slowing down the condition.

Anne said she first noticed something was wrong with her when she started to get cramps in her hands and she started to have difficulty walking without feeling stiff.

"I was sent for a brain scan and, as a result of that, they diagnosed Parkinson's disease," she said.

She said exercising and meeting others in the same position had helped her.

"I find exercising with other people helps as you don't feel quite as isolated, you meet people with the same condition," she said.

"I wouldn't have done what I do now, or met the people I met now, if it wasn't for the diagnosis."

She said her son was "so enthusiastic" about everything he does.

"He certainly gets a lot of good remarks from people with Parkinson's who feel they are dong something for themselves," she said.

The NHS advises that regular exercise is "particularly important" in helping to relieve muscle stiffness in people with Parkinson's disease as well as helping to improve mood and relieve stress.

"There are many activities you can do to help keep yourself fit," an NHS spokesperson said.

"If you are newly diagnosed or your symptoms are mild, you could try vigorous activities like team sports, cycling and running.

"It's about big, powerful moves."

Macfarlane said one of his aims was to help those with Parkinson's feel stronger.

"Classically, with Parkinson's, movements get much smaller and we're looking to reverse that," he said.

"A lot of people say to us they feel fitter and stronger than they did before their diagnosis because they are doing so much exercise."

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.