Physical Therapy and Parkinson’s Disease
April 6, 2021 – April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. In today’s blog we will be discussing the background of Parkinson’s Disease and a physical therapist’s role in treating this condition.
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine producing neurons in a specific area of the brain. Symptoms develop slowly over time and can vary from person to person. Common symptoms include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Resting tremors
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
- Limb rigidity
- Gait and balance difficulties
Though the cause for Parkinson’s is unknown, treatments are available to help slow the progression of the disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, complications related to Parkinson’s is the 14th cause of death in the United States. It is important that those with Parkinson’s are educated in the treatments available to them for the best quality of life possible.
For someone with Parkinson’s, it is best to learn more about the disease itself and management to help gain control of their personal health. There are many treatments of Parkinson’s Disease and physical therapy is one of them. Although it’s not a cure, therapeutic exercise has been clinically shown to significantly slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease symptoms. A recent study showed that early and regular physical therapy helped improve physical function and decreased disability (DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1725133). Also, having a therapist there to guide you through the process on a week-by-week basis can help you expand your knowledge of the disease itself and different tips and tricks to improved quality of life. For more information about Parkinson’s and physical therapy give the staff at Witte Physical Therapy a call today! You can get your questions answered by calling our Louisville clinic at 402-234-3333, Plattsmouth at 402-298-4747.
For more information about available resources for individuals with Parkinson’s visit https://www.parkinson.org/parkinsons-awareness-month.
Sources:
https://www.apdaparkinson.org/resources-support/living-with-parkinsons-disease/physical-therapy/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33742432/