Many symptoms of Parkinson's disease affect movement. Tight muscles, tremors, and trouble keeping your balance can all make it hard for you to get around safely without falling.
The medication your doctor prescribes is one way to relieve your symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy for Parkinson's can also help with movement problems. These programs teach you strategies and skills to help you stay active and independent.
Physical therapy is a program that helps you build strength, flexibility, balance, and coordination. It starts with an evaluation of your current abilities to locate the areas of movement causing you problems.
The therapist will teach you exercises and other techniques to improve your strength, coordination, balance, and movement. During physical therapy sessions, you might learn to:
To get the most out of your physical therapy sessions, find a therapist with experience treating Parkinson's or similar disorders. Therapists who are board-certified neurologic specialists (NCS) should have this type of training. Ask your neurologist to recommend someone.
Certain types of physical therapy can help with movement issues caused by Parkinson's disease. Here are a few of them.
Parkinson's progressively makes your movements smaller. This is called hypokinesia. Over time, walking becomes a shuffle, and your arms can no longer swing freely. Amplitude training, also called LSVT BIG, enlarges or amplifies your movements to make them more comfortable.
In this program, you follow your therapist as they move through a series of exaggerated motions. You might lift your knee high in the air while taking a step and swinging your arms in a big arc. Over time, these exercises retrain your muscles to broaden your range of motion and reverse some of the changes Parkinson's is causing to your body.
Parkinson's can disrupt the coordination between your eyes, inner ears, and feet that keeps you balanced. If you feel unsteady on your feet, you may not want to go anywhere for fear of falling.
When you stop walking, you can get deconditioned and become even more unsteady on your feet. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to improve your balance and help you regain the confidence you may have lost.
Parkinson's disease can change the movements you do in tandem with one another, like how you swing your arms when you walk. This therapy helps you retain those arm-and-leg movements. You learn exercises that move your arms and legs at the same time.
Reciprocal pattern training can include:
Both age and Parkinson's disease can weaken and decondition your muscles. Physical therapy strengthens your muscles using exercises that use light weights or resistance bands. Having strong muscles will help keep you balanced and mobile. If you like to swim, some physical therapists offer pool-based therapies.
Parkinson's makes your muscles tight, especially the ones in your hips and legs. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to lengthen and loosen up rigid muscles.
When you have Parkinson's disease, limited mobility can make simple tasks like getting dressed or taking a shower much harder. Occupational therapists teach you the skills you need for daily life — whether you're at home, work, or out with friends.
A therapist will evaluate your home, office (if you work), and daily routine to pinpoint areas where you could use help. Some things an occupational therapist can teach you include:
An occupational therapist can also recommend useful changes to your home. These changes will make your home safer. Examples of these changes include:
Your doctor has treatments to help you manage your Parkinson's symptoms. Along with taking medication, doing physical therapy can improve your strength, mobility, and balance. Occupational therapy can teach you ways to help you accomplish daily tasks more easily and safely.