One of the most upsetting things for an elderly person and their loved ones is the gradual loss of control, whether it's an inability to drive safely, walk or see properly – or any other betrayal of them by their body. For many it's a blow to their sense of self, built on a lifetime of accomplishments. They often, and understandably so, take the disability as an initial insult to their personal dignity. So, when tentative research points to exercise, in this case karate, being able to slow the progression of old age maladies like Parkinson's disease, there's an inevitable rush towards donning the amateur belts and also taking advantage of the camaraderie available. Doing karate for an hour twice a week for 10 weeks lowers the frequency of falls and enhances quality of life and well-being. With 60,000 new cases of Parkinson's in the United States alone, it's an attractive alternative to the apathy and depression that often follow lesser control. While the case study is minute (just 15 people), the anecdotal evidence is powerful. A bigger sample study with a proper control group is planned. – Chris Bateman

Karate shows promise for people with Parkinson's