Therapy Used to Treat Parkinson’s Disease

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Although there are currently no medications that can cure or slow the progression of Parkinson’s Disease. Exercises and physical fitness treatments that can help relieve symptoms, including the primary motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

Physical therapy cannot cure Parkinson’s disease, because at this time, neurological damage cannot be reversed. Many exercises can be performed at home or in an organized group. The goal of physical therapy is to improve your independence and quality of life by improving mobility. Your Neurologist should be able to issue a referral to a physical therapist experienced with patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

It is well-known that exercise of all kinds is beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s Disease. but physical therapy, in particular, is key. A physical therapist can guide you through the right moves to increase mobility, strength, and balance, and help you remain independent.

 It is good idea to ask about your physical therapist’s experience with Parkinson’s Disease patients. The best time to ask is when you are scheduling your first appointment. However, if the sessions don’t feel right to you, don’t be afraid to ask later or switch to a different physical therapist.

The relationship you develop with your physical therapist’ can be important, as you are likely to work with him or her on and off throughout your journey with Parkinson’s Disease.

Before starting, please discuss any exercise program with your primary care physician and neurologist and get a referral to a physical therapist with expertise in Parkinson’s Disease before starting any specific program.

Some of the medications designed to manage Parkinson’s Disease symptoms may have an immediate positive effect in conjunction with exercise. For example, movement is typically much easier shortly after you begin taking certain Parkinson’s Disease medications.

Your physical therapist will know how to time treatments, exercise, and activity based on both the schedule and the effects of your medications to get the best results can determine if any devices such as walkers or canes may be helpful to you.

If you need physical assistance to help you with moving in bed or getting out of a chair, your physical therapist can work with you and your family to develop strategies to make moving easier and help prevent injury. In addition, your physical therapist can make suggestions on changes to your home environment to optimize safe and efficient daily functions. TOP

Movement Disorder Specialist

You may also feel tightness, pain, and weakness, especially in the muscles and joints. Physical and occupational therapy may help with these symptoms. A movement disorder specialist is a neurologist with additional training in Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders. This type of doctor typically has extensive knowledge of Parkinson’s Disease therapies and ongoing research. Technology is helping more patients connect with these specialists.  Here are some of the programs available to Parkinson’s Disease patients. TOP

Motion & Balance Training

Parkinson’s Disease movement disorders include shuffled, off-balance walk; an irregular gait; lack of coordination, fatigue, festination, general weakness, and immobility. People living with Parkinson’s Disease often move differently, with gestures and actions that become smaller and slower. They may have trouble with getting around, getting dressed and with other activities of daily living. Some programs effectively train improved movements for any activity, whether “small motor” tasks like buttoning a shirt or “large motor” tasks like getting up from sofa or chair or maintaining

A specific form of physical therapy for Parkinson’s Disease is called LSVT BIG developed by Lee Silverman.  LSVT BIG trains people with Parkinson Disease to use their body more normally. The treatment may be most effective in early or middle stages of your condition, when you can both improve function and potentially slow further symptom progression.  LSTV BIG treatment improves walking, self-care and other tasks by helping people “recalibrate” how they perceive their movements with what others actually see. It also teaches people how and when to apply extra effort to produce bigger motions – that mimics the movements of others around them.

In Lee Silverman’s LSVT BIG, treatment is customized to each person’s specific needs and goals, it can help regardless of the stage or severity of your condition.  During the program you make  exaggerated physical movements, such as high steps and arm swings. It’s a way to retrain the muscles and slow down the progression of hyperkinesia, the increasingly smaller, more shuffling movements that happen with Parkinson’s. The LSVT BIG program is now available in Southern New Mexico through Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center. TOP

Reciprocal Patterns

Reciprocal movements are side-to-side and left-to-right patterns, such as swinging your arms while taking steps as you walk. Parkinson’s Disease may affect these patterns. Your therapist may help you reinforce reciprocal patterns through the use of a semi recumbent bicycle (a stationary bike in which you sit in a reclined position) or an elliptical machine (in which you use your arms and legs). Practice walking, while keeping in mind the swinging of your arms. It may help to chant or sing to keep the rhythm. TOP

Amplitude Training

A significant Parkinson’s Disease symptom is a very soft-spoken voice making it very difficult for the person with Parkinson’s to easily communicate with family and associates. Lee Silverman’s LVST LOUD training is an effective speech treatment for people with Parkinson’s Disease. LSVT LOUD is therapy to amplify the voice. LSVT LOUD trains people with Parkinson’s Disease to use their voice at a more normal level of loudness level while speaking at home, work, or in the community.

Key to the treatment is helping people “recalibrate” self-perceptions so they know how loud or soft they sound to other people and feel comfortable using a stronger voice at a normal loudness level.  Beginning your work with LSVT LOUD,  before you’ve noticed significant problems with voice, speech and communication will often lead to the best results, but it’s never too late to start. LSVT LOUD has the potential to produce significant improvements even for people facing considerable communication difficulties. Also, has the benefit of helping with swallowing difficulties. The LSVT LOUD program is now available in Southern New Mexico through the Gerald Champion Reg. Med Ctr. TOP

Balance Work

Normal balance is an interplay among what you see (visual feedback), your inner ear (which helps you orient yourself) and how your feet sense the ground beneath them. Parkinson’s Disease can affect this balance system, making your gait (how you walk) unstable, which in turn may make you fearful to be in public or crowded spaces. Gait training (practice walking) can help. Exercises that aim to improve balance should be guided by a physical therapist, who can work with you to understand any issues with balance and teach you ways to compensate. TOP

Stretching and Flexibility

It’s common for patients with Parkinson’s Disease to develop tight hip flexor, hamstring and calf muscles. To counteract that stiffness, it’s best to stretch at frequent intervals throughout the day, rather than just once. Ask a qualified trainer or therapist who specializes in Parkinson’s to show you how. If people who develop Parkinson’s have back issues, those issues can be exacerbated by the disease.  The muscles along the spine tighten down as a result of the disease. TOP

Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists can help people with Parkinson’s Disease maintain as many communication skills as possible when they have difficulty speaking. They also teach techniques that conserve energy, including non-verbal communication skills. Speech-language pathologists also recommend appropriate communication technologies that will help with daily activities. Speech disorder is called Dysarthria. Speech-language Pathologists also evaluate swallowing function and recommend changes as necessary. Parkinson’s Disease patients are prone to develop a swallowing disorder called Dysphagia. This disorder can be severely limiting to a person with Parkinson’s Disease. It affects what and how you eat and also puts you at risk to aspirate into the lungs rather than the swallowing into the esophagus. TOP

Strength Training

Muscles naturally weaken with age, so strength training is important for everyone. But research suggests that muscle weakness is a bigger problem for people with Parkinson’s Disease. Depending on what stage of the disease you are in, a physical therapist might have you do resistance exercises with light dumbbells or a resistance band (a kind of thick rubber band). Swimming pool-based classes, using the water’s resistance to strengthen muscles, can also be a good fit. TOP

Alternative Therapy Treatments

ACUPUNCTURE:  This is a centuries old treatment that utilizes the meridians in the body and needles to help reduce pain associated with Parkinson’s. 

ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE:  focuses on improving posture and reducing tension in specific areas of the body.

MEDITATION:  There are many studies that show that meditation has a very positive impact on the health of the brain.  It also reduces stress.  Stress is hard on anyone, but for people with Parkinson’s Disease it is particularly impactful.  Stress can actually limit the effectiveness of medications. 

MUSIC, ART AND PET THERAPY:

Things that lift the spirit may also reduce stress, improve mood, walking and speech. Pets whether totally in your daily life or intermittently offer the comfort and love that dogs, cats and birds bring when they are part of the Parkinson’s Disease patients daily life.

Music and dance offers a therapy and lifts the spirit. They provide the opportunity to interact with others with the disease in a very enjoyable level.

Laughing yoga was one of the biggest hits for monthly support group meeting.  Also, “Brain Games” helps at multiple levels.

HERBAL MEDICATIONS:  It is important to run any herbal medications by your neurologist.  There are herbs in proprietary drugs.  Ingredients can interact in a way that is unintended TOP

Southern New Mexico Exercise Resources

Attached is a list of classes and therapies located in Southern New Mexico.

Exercises that Improve Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms