Parkinson's disease is a neurological condition that can cause tremors, stiffness, loss of balance, trouble with speech and swallowing and difficulty initiating movement. Parkinson's disease can also cause changes in posture such as a rounded upper back, rounded shoulders and a head that juts forward. Over time, this change in posture and the stiffness associated with the condition can lead to lower back pain. While Parkinson's disease itself is challenging to treat, some treatments exist to relieve lower back discomfort.
Stretching
While stretching cannot cure Parkinson's disease, it is an important component in an overall treatment plan. Gentle daily stretching can help to relieve the stiffness and muscle soreness this disease can create, states Merck. After receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, it may be helpful to work with a physical therapist to learn how to stretch correctly.
To help the lower back, movements such as hugging one knee to the chest at a time, letting both knees fall to one side in a spinal twist or lying on the back and extending one leg straight up will all stretch the low back, hips and legs. When the muscles are more flexible, there is less pressure on the back, which, in turn, can reduce back pain.
Upper Back Strength-Training Exercises
To help relieve back pain, individuals can perform exercises that will strengthen the upper back muscles. Stronger muscles in the upper back will help to correct posture, which can reduce low back pain, claims the University of California, San Francisco.
Exercises such as pullbacks and rows, which can be done with weights, bands or machines, can help. When using weights, individuals should start slowly and always move with control. To prevent injuries, a person must never swing the weight and should avoid walking with hand or ankle weights. Strength-training exercises should be done slowly by working the muscle through its full range of motion. As the back muscles get stronger, they will become less fatigued and better able to maintain good posture.
Stress Management
Living with a challenging condition like Parkinson's disease can be stressful. The changes in independence and lifestyle can make a patient chronically anxious and tense. Over time, stress can lead to many health problems and symptoms including back pain and tightness, warns the National Parkinson's Foundation.
Practicing a relaxation technique each day can help to bring stress levels down, which may aid in relieving lower back pain. Relaxation techniques can include sitting quietly and focusing on the breath or using guided imagery techniques. Guided imagery can involve imagining the muscles in the low back as ropes tied in a knot that loosen and untie with each exhale. The back pain can be visualized as a red ball that becomes smaller and softer in color with each exhale until it disappears.
Dopaminergic Medication
The symptoms of Parkinson's disease occur because the body is attacking the structure within the brain that produces dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps nerve signals travel from the brain to the rest of the body. Without enough dopamine, the body cannot move correctly, and there may be tremors, muscle spasms or uncontrollable, forceful twisting movements anywhere in the body, including the trunk. When this occurs, the low back can become sore.
According to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, medications that mimic the actions of dopamine may be helpful to control these spasms. However, as with all medications, there are side effects to consider and there are often periods when the medication is working, called "on" periods, alternated with "off" periods when the medication wears off.
