Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder that disrupts your ability to control your body movements. People with Parkinson's can develop uncontrollable tremors, unusual movement slowness, torso and limb stiffness or posture problems. Physical therapists can help offset some of the effects of Parkinson's disease by showing you how to increase your muscle tone, range of motion and general body mobility.
Parkinson's Disease Basics
Parkinson's disease develops when your brain fails to produce sufficient amounts of dopamine, a chemical that normally passes signals between various brain areas that control motion. In its early stages, the disorder appears to produce non-motor control related symptoms that can include sleep disturbances, loss of your sense of smell and constipation. Over time, loss of dopamine producing brain cells triggers the onset of classic motor control related symptoms. The progression of Parkinson's is typically quite slow, and can result in anything from minor movement control problems to severe, disabling movement difficulties.
Physical Therapists
Physical therapists are trained to help improve your mobility and body function, limit the disabling effects of your condition and improve your overall fitness and well-being. Before developing an active therapy plan, they will take your medical history and assess a variety of body related abilities, including your motor function, posture, range of motion, coordination and muscle strength. After this assessment, they develop exercises programs that address any existing physical problems and then put these programs into action.
Parkinson's Therapy Plans
Specific physical therapy goals for people with Parkinson's disease might include reducing body rigidity or abnormally slow body movements, improving your muscular coordination and sense of balance, improving the way you walk and increasing or maintaining your daily level of physical activity. Methods used to achieve these goals include stretching and strengthening exercises, high-stepping and weight shifting exercises, walking and posture training and regular engagement in swimming, dancing or other activities that require coordinated movement. Your therapist may also use braces, splints or other mobility aids as part of your recovery.
Considerations
The usefulness of physical therapy in treating Parkinson's disease has been verified by a number of studies, according to a review published in 2008 in "Movement Disorders." While therapy can't cure Parkinson's, it can help improve a Parkinson's patient's outlook and provide real gains in maintaining independent body function. Potential limitations in using physical therapy for Parkinson's include physicians' lack of belief in nonmedical treatments for the disorder, the lack of physical therapists with practical experience in treating Parkinson's patients and a general lack of access to physical therapists in some areas or communities.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Parkinson's Disease; Feb. 15, 2011
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: NINDS Parkinson's Disease Information Page
- National Parkinson Foundation: What Is Parkinson's Disease (PD)
- Mayo School of Health Sciences: Physical Therapy Career Overview
- Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders: Parkinson's Disease; Nonpharmacologic Treatments
- "Movement Disorders"; Physical Therapy in Parkinson's Disease; Evolution and Future Challenges; Keus, Munneke, et al.; Oct. 22, 2008
