How Physical Therapy Can Help With Parkinson’s Disease

April 13, 2021 – Last week’s blog we discussed Parkinson’s Disease signs and symptoms and mentioned Physical Therapy as a means of treatment. Today we will be covering what physical therapists can do specifically to treat people with Parkinson’s Disease.

Physical therapy-based exercise programs have been shown to help slow symptom progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Even those who are experiencing early signs of PD have been clinically shown to experience a slowing of disease progression when adhering to a proper physical therapy program. A few programs as special therapy techniques are used in physical therapy to help patients with PD.

LSVT BIG and Loud is one program or tool that can be used by your physical therapist. The purpose of this program is to educate patients and their care givers on how to perform their best despite having PD. LSVT Big teaches those with PD to work toward big movement patterns and make their daily movements purposeful. For example, using larger steps with walking to avoid the common “shuffling gait” as seen in people with PD. Using loud words helps patients make the body-to-brain connection when re-learning daily activities. Research has also shown that repetitive cueing or background rhythmic music helps overcome the “freezing” commonly seen with patients who have PD.

These techniques and more are used in physical therapy sessions to help treat patients who struggle with the effects of Parkinson’s Disease. Physical therapists have a solid background in using these techniques and our staff at Witte Physical Therapy devote one-on-one time in skilled therapy sessions to make sure these patients are receiving the best treatment possible. Give us a call to learn more today!

Louisville clinic: 402-234-3333

Plattsmouth clinic: 402-298-4747

References:

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/physical-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease