Parkinson’s doesn’t only show up during workouts; it shows up when you’re putting on a shirt, tying shoes, walking the dog, or getting up off the floor. In this episode, Todd Vogt and Eric Von Frohlich share how they “gamify” everyday tasks to turn normal life into training: adding constraints, timing tasks, using the non-dominant hand, and stacking small challenges that build mobility, coordination, confidence, and consistency.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to turn daily tasks into “tests” you can repeat and improve (without needing more gym time).
• Why adding load / biofeedback, balance constraints, and the non-dominant side can make movement practice more effective and engaging.
• Simple “scoreboard” examples: the t-shirt challenge, timing your dog walk, shoe-tying reps, and “get ups.”
• A mindset shift: choose your challenge on purpose, instead of feeling like Parkinson’s is choosing it for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Treat chores like training. “Gamification” makes daily work more engaging and helps skills that are already eroding show up stronger in real life.
• Repeat the test. Do a task multiple times to refine technique and efficiency (instead of just “getting through it”).
• Add constraints (load, balance, eyes closed, non-dominant hand) to create neurological + physical demand without fancy equipment.
• The floor is training. Practicing getting up and down builds confidence and reduces fear around falls and floor transitions.
• Do the work; don’t chase the outcome. The consistency compounds.

Key Moments:

00:32 – Weekly training check-in + medicine ball warmup ideas
02:27 – Theme setup: movement practice “wherever you find it” + PT discussion (includes a mention of Jimmy Choi at the clinic)
03:15 – Physical therapy tactics: add load, time tasks, and build “tests” (t-shirt/vest drill)
05:28 – Why daily-life training matters: you notice PD more in day-to-day tasks than the gym
06:00 – Stretching, mobility, juggling as cognitive/neurological work
08:35 – Biofeedback + load (ankle/hand weights, trekking pole idea)
09:47 – “Get ups” (Dan John) and why floor practice matters
12:09 – Dog-walk gamification: 18 minutes → 15 minutes (move with purpose)
36:22 – Shoe-tying reps + non-dominant hand + cognitive challenges
38:49 – Shirt-on/off becomes training; add balance/load/eyes closed; “limited by imagination”
43:18 – Why this is underappreciated + closing mindset (“do the work…”)

Follow / Connect:

🔔 Subscribe: https://parkinsons-an-athletes-journey.transistor.fm/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkinsonsathletepodcast/
🌐 Website: https://www.ericvonfrohlich.com/podcast
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parkinsons-an-athlete-s-journey-podcast/?viewAsMember=true

Disclaimer:

Personal experience and education only, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical decisions.

What happens when you’ve spent your whole life letting a time or a ranking define you as an athlete, and then Parkinson’s changes the rules?

In this episode of Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey, we talk about performance pressure, athlete identity, and how the “clock” can quietly become your self-worth. Todd breaks down why sports like rowing (and even swimming) can wire your brain to chase tenths of a second, and how that can mess with you when things shift.

We also get real about motivation. Parkinson’s can dull that internal “rocket fuel,” and sometimes you have to brute-force your way into the work. We talk about redefining the metric: effort, consistency, and showing up, even when your best today isn’t your best from ten years ago.

A few takeaways:

• The clock can be a tool, or a trap (especially for lifelong competitors).
• Parkinson’s can change your access to “rocket fuel,” even when your grit is still there.
• Sometimes the hardest lift isn’t the barbell, but walking through the front door.
• Shift the metric: how hard you can go today matters more than how fast the clock says you went.

Medical note: This podcast shares personal experience only. It is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for medical decisions, including medications and training choices.

Some days you wake up and feel sharp. Other days, you can barely get through the warm-up. In this episode of Parkinson’s: An Athlete’s Journey, we talk about the real day-to-day variability of Parkinson’s, and how we keep training anyway.

We get into what helps most (and what’s just “interesting”): the basics like training and sleep quality, plus recovery tools like foam rolling, massage guns, sauna, cold exposure, and the tradeoffs of time and energy. We also talk about things we’ve personally tried or considered, and why the best plan is usually the one you’ll actually do consistently.

What we cover

• “Good day / bad day” check-in and why the gym can change the whole day
• Training environments: Parkinson’s community and being around serious athletes
• “Cardio fiesta” Zone 2: making long sessions mentally tolerable
• Sleep: broken nights, REM sleep behavior, and why sleep has the biggest payoff
• Personal experience with sleep supports (CBD/THC, magnesium, mouth taping, nasal strips)
• Recovery tools: foam roller, massage gun, hyperbaric naps
• Sauna vs cold plunge vs cold shower (benefit vs effort)

Medical disclaimer

This episode reflects personal experience only and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals for decisions about medications, supplements, and treatment.