A Simple Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease: Exercise
Vocabulary
Direction: Read each word and let the student repeat it.
disease
[dɪˈziːz] (noun)
– an illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection
ex.If you eat a lot of foods high in fat you risk having a heart disease in the future.
disease
[dɪˈziːz] (noun)
– an illness affecting humans, animals or plants, often caused by infection
ex.If you eat a lot of foods high in fat you risk having a heart disease in the future.
patient
[ˈpeɪʃnt] (noun)
– person who receives medical care or treatment
ex.Nurses take care of patients.
[ˈpeɪʃnt] (noun)
– person who receives medical care or treatment
ex.Nurses take care of patients.
incurable
[ɪnˈkjʊrəbl] (adjective)
– that cannot be cured
ex.Diabetes is an incurable disease.
[ɪnˈkjʊrəbl] (adjective)
– that cannot be cured
ex.Diabetes is an incurable disease.
stretch
[stretʃ] (verb)
– to move your muscles in a way that makes them long and tight
ex.Runners stretch before a race.
[stretʃ] (verb)
– to move your muscles in a way that makes them long and tight
ex.Runners stretch before a race.
swing
[swɪŋ] (verb)
– to move with a smooth, curving motion
ex.The child was sitting on a high chair swinging his legs.
[swɪŋ] (verb)
– to move with a smooth, curving motion
ex.The child was sitting on a high chair swinging his legs.
instructor
[ɪnˈstrʌktər] (noun)
– a person whose job is to teach somebody a practical skill or sport
ex.My driving instructor scared me at first.
[ɪnˈstrʌktər] (noun)
– a person whose job is to teach somebody a practical skill or sport
ex.My driving instructor scared me at first.
straighten
[ˈstreɪtn] (verb)
– to become straight; to make something straight
ex.She has curly hair but straightens it every morning.
[ˈstreɪtn] (verb)
– to become straight; to make something straight
ex.She has curly hair but straightens it every morning.
Article
Direction: Read each paragraph and let the student repeat it.
A Simple Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease: Exercise
More than six million people around the world suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease makes patients shake and their muscles difficult to move. The disease is incurable and only gets worse overtime. Parkinson’s usually affects older people.Current treatments for Parkinson’s are medicine and surgery. But lately many doctors and patients have become interested in a treatment that is simple, does not cost much and seems to be very effective. That treatment is exercise.“Pick it back up. Put it down. Right leg. Straight arm.Way back. one … two … three …”What you hear are 20 senior citizens exercising. They stretch their arms forward and then swing them far back. The instructor watching them closely is a 75-year-old man named Gary Sobel.[…]Mr. Sobel shows the class how to catch and throw – or, as he says, hurl – an imaginary ball. Everyone follows his instructions. But many of the students cannot stop their hands and feet from shaking. And some cannot straighten their bodies.Everyone in the class has Parkinson’s disease – everyone – even the instructor.Parkinson’s disease is an incurable brain, or neurologic, condition that can make walking and keeping your balance difficult. So, many patients avoid exercise. But these students exercise several times a week.They say the exercise helps the symptoms of Parkinson’s. But they also come for another reason – the friendship.[…]
Questions
Direction: Ask the students the questions, and give the answers.
- 1How many people around the world suffer from Parkinson’s disease?
- 2Who does Parkinson’s usually affect?
- 3Why do patients avoid exercise?
More than 6 million.
It usually affects older people.
Because Parkinson’s disease can make walking and keeping your balance difficult.
Discussion
Direction: Discuss the topics.
- 1After reading the article; do you think it’s necessary for Parkinson’s disease patients to exercise?
- 2Do you exercise?
- 3Do you ever read magazines, books or articles about health?
Follow-up question1: Do you think it’s hard for the patients?
Follow-up question2: Do you think they should still try to exercise even though it’s very hard?
Follow-up question2: Do you think they should still try to exercise even though it’s very hard?
Follow-up question1: If yes; what kind of exercise do you do? (ex.: ride a bike, go to the gym, etc.)
Follow-up question2: If no; do you think you need to exercise?
Follow-up question2: If no; do you think you need to exercise?
Follow-up question1: What themes/topics do you think are interesting?
Follow-up question2: If you get sick do you go to the doctor straight away? Or do you try to cure yourself?
Follow-up question2: If you get sick do you go to the doctor straight away? Or do you try to cure yourself?
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