Coach Andy Munro with Giffnock North AC athletes
By Katy Barden
Engineer Andy Munro is a lover of spreadsheets, but his continuous research and data collection isn’t linked to his day-job. It’s far more important than that.
The 52-year-old – a coach at Giffnock North and a committed Munro bagger – was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2021.
Since then, he’s documented an extensive set of facts, figures, and ‘success story’ case studies aiming to identify what common factors, if any, are shared by those who have lived well with the progressive neurological condition.
‘The one thing that always comes out is exercise and, in particular high intensity exercise, so running – alongside good nutrition – is right up there,’ he says.
‘Parkinson’s will progress at different rates, and with varying symptoms for different people, however, those who seem to be doing ok after many years are the ones who are exercising and eating well.’
Andy first started to experience symptoms in 2019 when his arm froze as he was trying to whisk an egg.
He is not a medical expert, nor does he claim to be, but in a concept which will resonate with most people: he’s simply doing what he can to maximise his quality of life.
Andy running the Linwood parkrun
Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years.
The main symptoms are an involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. A person with Parkinson’s disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms.
‘There are a massive number of things you can do yourself to alleviate symptoms and also to slow down progression which the medication doesn’t do, the primary one being exercise,’ he says.
‘There’s also a piece about purpose, social skills and hobbies, and the athletics club gives me a lot of that.
‘I don’t compete as much anymore, but I coach kids and I absolutely love it. When you work full-time it can be quite tiring heading back out to coach at night; but being out there coaching the kids is energising.’
Andy is discouraged by the lack of exercise-related action taken by those who are either providing a diagnosis of Parkinson’s or being diagnosed themselves. Too much rest – or adopting a sedentary lifestyle – he says, is ‘quite literally the worst thing you…
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