Watches
Fitness and Sleep Tracking Watches
Fitness tracking is essential for people with Parkinson’s to help monitor physical activity, heart rate, sleep quality, energy levels and more.
Garmin watches are known for being durable, providing reliable data, and offering long battery life, which minimizes the need for frequent charging.
I prefer the Garmin models over the Apple watch. I find the small touch screen of the Apple Watch a challenge for my twitchy fingers and the short battery life makes it useless in tracking sleep because it needs to be charged each evening.
Garmin Forerunner 265
MSRP:
• $449.99
CAN USUALLY FIND FOR $350
Pros for Parkinson’s:
• Fitness Tracking: Garmin excels in tracking detailed fitness data across various activities such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, and strength training. It offers accurate heart rate, cadence, and stress levels, helping those with Parkinson’s track and manage exercise routines.
• Sleep Tracking: Provides advanced sleep analysis, including light, deep, and REM sleep stages. This can help individuals with Parkinson’s track how their condition affects sleep patterns, which is important for overall wellness.
• Battery Life: Up to 13 days in smartwatch mode (or 7 days for the 265S model), which is significantly longer than the Apple Watch. This long battery life allows for uninterrupted fitness and sleep tracking without frequent charging, which is a plus for people with motor challenges.
• Button and Touchscreen Combo: While it has an AMOLED touchscreen, it also includes physical buttons, allowing users to choose how they navigate, which is helpful for those with tremors or dexterity issues.
• Body Battery: Monitors energy levels throughout the day, giving valuable feedback for people with Parkinson’s to manage fatigue and exercise at the right times.
Cons for Parkinson’s:
• Touchscreen Might Be Tricky: Although there are physical buttons, some users with significant tremors may find the touchscreen difficult to use.
• No Voice Control: Unlike the Apple Watch, the Forerunner 265 does not have voice assistant functionality, which could make hands-free operation difficult.
Garmin Forerunner 745
MSRP:
• $499.99, USUALLY FIND FOR ABOUT $400
Pros for Parkinson’s:
• Fitness Tracking: The Forerunner 745 provides excellent tracking across a range of activities, including running, swimming, biking, strength training, and more. It also delivers accurate heart rate and activity metrics, which are essential for people managing their fitness.
• Sleep Tracking: It offers detailed sleep analysis similar to the 265, tracking different sleep stages, which is helpful for those with Parkinson’s who may experience disrupted sleep patterns.
• Battery Life: Lasts up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, longer than the Apple Watch but shorter than the Forerunner 265. Still, this is sufficient for most users and ensures fewer charging interruptions.
• Button Navigation Only: Unlike the 265, the 745 does not have a touchscreen. It’s entirely operated via buttons, which can be much easier to use for someone with tremors or limited dexterity.
• Lightweight and Compact: The watch is smaller and lighter than the Forerunner 265, which makes it comfortable for all-day wear, an important feature for individuals who may struggle with heavier devices.
Cons for Parkinson’s:
• Shorter Battery Life Compared to 265: While 7 days is sufficient, it still requires more frequent charging compared to the Forerunner 265, which may be a challenge for some users.
• No Voice Control: Similar to the 265, it lacks voice assistant functionality, which could limit hands-free operation for people with Parkinson’s.
Apple Watch
PRICES VARY DEPENDING ON WHICH GENERATION AND SIZE
$146 – $600+
Pros for Parkinson’s:
• Fitness Tracking: Apple Watch tracks multiple activities, including walking, running, cycling, yoga, and more, offering accurate heart rate monitoring and step count. It also allows users to set movement goals and reminds them to stay active throughout the day.
• Sleep Tracking: It offers basic sleep tracking, but charging becomes an issue, as the watch has to be charged every night, making it hard to use for continuous sleep data monitoring.
• Medication Reminders: Offers reminders to take medications, which can be essential for people with Parkinson’s who need regular doses.
• Accessibility Features: The AssistiveTouch feature allows users to control the watch using gestures, which can be helpful for people with tremors. Voice control (Siri) also makes it easier to manage tasks without needing to use the touchscreen.
Cons for Parkinson’s:
• Battery Life: Only 18 hours, meaning it must be charged daily. For someone with limited motor skills, frequent charging could be inconvenient.
• Touchscreen-Heavy Interface: The interface relies heavily on touch, which can be difficult for people with tremors. Buttons are small and may be hard to press for those with limited dexterity.
• Sleep Data Requires Charging Workaround: Due to the short battery life, tracking sleep consistently requires charging the watch before bed, which is a hassle.

Conclusion:
• Apple Watch Series 9 offers helpful accessibility features and voice control, but the short battery life and reliance on a touchscreen make it less convenient for someone with Parkinson’s.
• Garmin Forerunner 265 stands out with its long battery life, detailed fitness tracking, and Body Battery for monitoring energy levels. Its mix of buttons and touchscreen provides flexibility, although some may find the touchscreen challenging.
• Garmin Forerunner 745 is ideal for those who prefer button-only navigation with advanced fitness and sleep tracking. It offers the comfort of a compact design, though its battery life is slightly shorter than the 265.
Ultimately, the Garmin Forerunner models are better suited for someone with Parkinson’s who values fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, and long battery life over more extensive accessibility features.
Written with AI assistance.