Exercise for people with Parkinson’s expands at YMCA

Workouts meant to help delay the disease

It has been eight years since Dave Steighner, of Butler, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but he can still squeeze a ball with each of his fingers, still rotate his arms around his waist and still go from a seated to a standing position with relative ease.

He demonstrated all these movements on July 30 at an exercise class at the Butler YMCA that walked him and about 15 other people through some light-intensity repetitions. The movements each mimicked everyday tasks many people don’t even think about, but can present a challenge to people with Parkinson’s as they begin to lose their balance and limb functionality.

Steighner started attending these classes, which are specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s, at the YMCA shortly aft