Case Study: Connecting people with Parkinson's to exercise and activity

The importance of physical activity for people with Parkinson's

For people with Parkinson's, staying active is essential. Research shows that engaging in physical activity for at least 2.5 hours per week can help manage symptoms, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and even enhance the effectiveness of medication. Despite this, many health professionals in the community struggle to connect people with Parkinson’s to appropriate exercise and activity opportunities.

You can find out more about the Parkinson’ UK Excellence Network exercise toolkit for health professionals who work with people with Parkinson's.

Social prescribing, a way of signposting individuals from the NHS to non-clinical services such as physical activity or exercise sessions in their community, could help to address this gap. This case study explores how Paul Hopkins, founder of Runspire, and Christine Stanley, a Nordic walking instructor with Parkinson’s, are using social prescribing to empower people with Parkinson’s to stay active.

Runspire: a social prescribing success story

Over a decade ago, Paul Hopkins transformed his life through running, overcoming obesity, poor mental health, and social anxiety. Inspired to help others, he founded Runspire in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a social prescribing initiative offering activities like running, walking, and Nordic walking. Now operating in 10 locations across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, Paul credits social prescribers for the programme's rapid growth and impact.

Paul explains, "Social prescribing has been one of the biggest factors in our growth." It had allowed the organisation to reach people affected by mental health and substance abuse issues and cancer, for example. 

Christine Stanley: a pioneer in Nordic walking for Parkinson's

Christine Stanley was diagnosed with Parkinson's eight years ago, and has become the first woman with Parkinson's to become a certified Nordic walking instructor. She now runs six groups across Nottinghamshire, serving around 90 people with Parkinson's.

Christine's journey into Nordic walking began with a research program led by nurse Sarah McCracken, which highlighted the benefits of the activity for people with Parkinson's. "The benefits are huge," Christine explains. This is as Nordic walking involves a range of movements, improves posture, balance, gait, coordination, and mental wellbeing. It's also a social activity, which helps combat isolation, she says. British Nordic Walking have been incredibly supportive of her endeavours for people with Parkinson's. 

Her sessions are structured as lessons, incorporating warm-ups, drills, and walking exercises. "Anybody at any stage really of Parkinson's if they can walk can join in." she says. "So, I sometimes do a pre-half hour for people that I need to assess and help before they can join the groups. But it's been incredibly successful."

Engaging doctors and nurses

Both Paul and Christine emphasise the potential benefits that social prescribing of exercise and activity offers to people with Parkinson's.

Christine points out that while social prescribing has great promise, it is underused in her area. While she has had referrals of people with Parkinson’s from a local physiotherapist she explains, she has not had a referral from a social prescriber via a GP. Most of the people coming to her sessions hear about them through word of mouth, Parkinson's UK, or posters she has put up in GP surgeries. She said: "They are too busy. I think some GPs are very good at it but some GPs think it is not their bag. I think helping GPs to social prescribe would be fantastic."

Social prescribing has been one of the biggest keys to our growth, says Paul, regarding Runspire. In order to promote the different activities that they offer to patients who could benefit from activity and exercise, he runs taster days for health professionals. GPs and nurses are often unsure about what’s available locally, he says. "That’s why we hold taster sessions for healthcare professionals, so they can experience what we offer and feel confident referring patients to us. So they come along, do the hour session, get to have a go a bit themselves and also ask any questions they have about it," he says. 

Breaking down barriers to participation

Both Runspire and Christine's Nordic walking groups are designed to be as inclusive as possible, addressing common barriers such as cost, anxiety, and accessibility. For example, Paul's sessions are often free or low-cost, thanks to funding from local councils and organisations like the National Lottery. Some people are in difficult financial situations, sometimes due to their health challenges Paul explains. "The important thing for us is that they're actually coming to the session and benefiting from it. So, we do have funding from the city council and also the National Lottery to help support them."

Christine also keeps her sessions affordable, asking for a voluntary contribution of just £3. "If someone can’t afford it, they don't pay," she says. "I'm not in it for the money, I'm in it to give back to the community."

To address social anxiety, both Paul and Christine offer extra support for participants who may feel nervous about joining a group. "If someone is anxious, we'll meet them separately and walk them into the group setting," Paul explains. Christine adds, it is important to build their confidence and give them hope. "One thing about Parkinson's that we need to get across is you can do, not you can't do, but you've got to be willing to get out there."

Measuring impact and building community

The impact of these programs goes beyond physical health with both aiming to foster a sense of community and belonging with their groups. Paul's quarterly surveys show that 97% of participants feel they’ve made new friends through Runspire, and 100% report improvements in their mental health and wellbeing. Similarly, Christine's participants often comment on the social benefits of her sessions.

The ripple effects of these programs are evident. Participants often go on to organise their own activities, such as walks in the Peak District or social outings. Christine has even helped train 5 new Nordic walking instructors, expanding access to this beneficial activity across Nottinghamshire.

Ensuring finances are available is also important to the running of the groups. When Christine completed her instructors' course, she says she immediately sourced various potential grant bodies and started applying for funding. "I had good success from Rotary clubs in the Midlands, Parkinson's UK and Sports Parkinson's who have been incredibly generous allowing me to support the training of 4 British Nordic walking instructors, with one pending and 4 walk leaders with a 5th applying. I have sustainability of funds allowing me to continue developing more Nordic walking groups," she says. 

The finances for each group are reviewed quarterly, and so far all groups are successful, she adds. 

The future of social prescribing for Parkinson’s

Looking ahead, both Paul and Christine are eager to expand their reach and impact. Paul's three-year plan for Runspire includes growing to 15 locations and partnering with large organisations like Boots to support employee wellbeing. 

Looking ahead, Paul and Christine hope to see social prescribing become a standard part of care for people with Parkinson’s and other chronic conditions. 

Christine, meanwhile, continues to advocate for the benefits of Nordic walking on a global stage. Her upcoming presentation at the International Nordic Walking Conference in Finland is a testament to the growing recognition of her work. "Whatever happens, you know, you've got to live your life as best you can. And if we can help people with the same condition.

"I want to leave a legacy for the future for people with Parkinson’s and strongly believe that Nordic walking for all aging individuals is extremely valuable and has huge potential in keeping the neuro pathways open and keeping some of the progression of Parkinson's symptoms at bay. It is extremely powerful for physical, mental and social wellbeing health."

For more information on how to support people with Parkinson’s through exercise, visit the Parkinson’s UK Exercise Toolkit for healthcare professionals.