Parkinson's Disease Massage Benefits

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that progresses over time. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, and can include tremors, loss of balance and stiffness. Treatment includes medication, nutritional counseling, physical therapy and massage.

Significance

• Active participation is an important part of living with Parkinson's. Many patients benefit from exercise and working with a physical therapist. As reported by the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Drs. Mark Hirsch and David Lehman believe regular exercise and any movement may slow the progression of the disease.

Considerations

• Maintaining movement and increasing flexibility, mobility, balance and range of motion is an integral part of Parkinson's disease treatment. Massage therapists work on muscles and joints to help alleviate pain and stiffness and improve movement, mobility, flexibility and balance.

Benefits

• The massage therapist communicates with the patient throughout the therapy session. As long as the patient has feeling and movement in the area being worked on, benefits can be obtained.

Warning

• Parkinson's patients often have trouble with balance and uncontrolled movements. A massage therapist must take steps to ensure the patient's safety and comfort while getting on and off a massage table and during a massage.

Potential

• A study conducted at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami found that Parkinson's disease symptoms were reduced when massage therapy was used. After just five weeks, patients had improved movement, they slept better, functioned better on a daily basis and showed reduced stress hormone levels.

Insight

• Massage therapists in the study worked patients' back, legs, arms, shoulders, buttocks, hands, neck and face. Patients improved physically, cognitively, emotionally and mentally, according to the University of Miami study.