Parkinson's Disease - What Is It And What Can I Do?

Symptoms:

Symptoms and severity can vary widely, and people can live with this disease for 2-3 decades, but usually experience a progressive decline in cognitive and physical function. Symptoms can be categorized into 2 groups:

• “Nonmotor”

  • Loss of sense of smell

  • Sleep irregularities

  • Brief lightheadedness when standing up

  • Fatigue

  • Depression/Anxiety

  • Limited attention span

• “Motor”

  • Stiffness 

  • Tremors 

  • Slowed movement

  • Smaller movement

  • Balance deficits

  • Shuffling when walking

  • Forward, stooped posture

  • Lower voice volume

  • Feeling like your feet are glued to the floor when attempting to walk

  • Less facial expressions

Treatment:

Treatment will be specified to your unique needs. Physical therapy for PD tackles two hallmark presentations of this condition: slowness of movement (bradykinesia) and smallness of movement (hypokinesia). There are multiple advanced certifications for specific methods that have been heavily backed in research for proven results (LSVT BIG, PWR Moves, and Rock Steady Boxing). However, all PT for patients with PD will include:

• Postural Re-education

• Gait Training

• Balance Training

• Mobility Training

• Progressive Resistive Exercise

• Caregiver Education

• Adaptive Equipment Use

Physical Therapy Exercises:

• Sit to Stand with Open Arms: Start by sitting at the end of a chair, while leaning back against the backrest. Keep feet about hip width apart. Use a big lean forward with your torso and reach forward with both arms. Then push through your heels to rise up to standing, with your arms now reaching out to either side 

• Reach and Roll: Lay on your back with arms stretched out to the side forming a “T” with your body. Bnd your R knee with your foot flat on the bed. Push down through your R heel as you reach your R arm across to touch your L hand as your roll onto your L side. Return to starting position. Repeat a few times before switching to other side. 

• Seated Hug: While sitting in a chair, start by hugging yourself. Then expand your arms out to the side and lean back against backrest, looking up to the ceiling. Return to starting position and repeat.

Prevention: 

At this time, there is no known way to prevent PD. However, physical therapy treatment has proven to maximize daily functional movement ability.  

Think you might be dealing with Parkinson’s Disease? Interested in physical therapy care?  Contact MTS for an hour long 1-on-1 evaluation with a PT to get started!