Physical Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects normal movement of the body. In persons with Parkinson's, certain brain cells responsible for producing dopamine die off. Dopamine is a chemical that sends signals to parts of the brain that designate how and when parts of the body should move. Since Parkinson's allows the brain to send out and receive fewer signals to control bodily movement, some common symptoms include trembling, stiffness, slow movement, speech problems and instability. There is no cure for the condition, although medication, surgery and physical therapy can help alleviate the harmful effects of the symptoms.

Increase Strength

• Working with a physical therapist can help a person with Parkinson's to build up his strength and hopefully lead to prevention or limitation of future debilitation in movement. Since Parkinson's leads to less stimulation of the muscles to move, physical therapy is a great way to make sure the muscles continue to move and maintain their strength.

Improve Balance

• Physical therapy can help people with Parkinson's who often have problems maintaining control of their posture or balance. Regularly exercising certain muscles can afford greater flexibility and improve one's ability to walk. Physical therapists can provide exercises to keep the spine straight, which will help immensely in being able to maintain balance for walking and basic posture. A physical therapist can also properly evaluate a person's advancement of Parkinson's to determine if using a cane or walker would be helpful for everyday use.

Prevention Techniques

• A physical therapist can provide valuable information to individuals with Parkinson's about ways to prevent stiffness of the body and the subsequent dangers of falling. Losing balance and falling is common with Parkinson's disease patients. Stretching exercises to warm up the muscles and exercises to strengthen the muscles so they can react when beginning to lose control are two valuable reasons why people afflicted with Parkinson's should regularly work with a physical therapist.

Daily Exercise Routine

• Physical therapy provides persons with Parkinson's and their caregivers helpful exercises that can be performed at home daily during the progression of the disease. Doing these exercises regularly can guard against future problems that may occur with bodily movement. The idea is to keep the muscles moving to the best of their ability and to keep the body healthy. Regular exercise and physical therapy sessions have proven to be quite effective.

Pain Management

• The symptoms of Parkinson's often start out with a pain in the shoulder. This sign eventually progresses to aching throughout the entire body and agitating signs of stiffness and numbness. Dystonia causes the most disabling pain among Parkinson's disease patients. This neurological disorder results in twisting movements and continuous spasms in some parts of the body as muscles suddenly contract. Some pain does result from Parkinson's, while other pain is an unfortunate side effect of the medications used to control the disease. Physical therapy can help patients cope with the pain and provide certain exercises to alleviate discomfort.