Parkinson’s Disease Treatment: How Physical Therapy Can Help

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month!

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) each year. PD is the second most common degenerative brain disorder affecting adults. (Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.)

It’s well-known that exercise of all kinds is beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease. But physical therapy, in particular, is key. Why? A PT can guide you through the right moves to increase mobility, strength and balance, and help you remain independent. Below are some examples of common treatments that someone with Parkinson’s can have if they come into HealthQuest Physical Therapy:

• Balance Training
• Walking Training
• Trunk Stiffness/ Slowness of Movement
• Reciprocal Patterns
• Stretching and Flexibility
• Strength Training

Specialty treatment for Parkinson’s: Amplitude

A specific form of physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease is called LSVT BIG training. It’s meant to help patients with Parkinson’s increase what we call ‘amplitude of movement,’” In LSVT BIG, you make overexaggerated physical movements, like high steps and arm swings. It’s a way to retrain the muscles and slow down the progression of hypokinesia, the increasingly smaller, more shuffling movements that happen with Parkinson’s. Another form/technique of this is PRW! You can learn more about this type of treatment and where it’s offered here.

HealthQuest can help!

This isn’t an exclusive list of what type of physical therapy treatments there are for people with Parkinson’s Disease. Each physical therapy treatment is tailored to the specific individual’s needs, goals, and wants. And while physical therapy isn’t a cure for Parkinson’s Disease it can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Schedule your free assessment today and see how we can help you manage symptoms!