Parkinson’s Disease is the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. The World Health Organization estimated in 2019 that there are over 8.5 million people worldwide who are living with Parkinson’s, with its prevalence doubling over the past 25 years. It is likely that most people reading this have either a friend, family member, or acquaintance in their lives who is fighting this degenerative process.
Parkinson’s Disease is a movement disorder that affects the way you are able to walk, talk, balance, and move your arms and hands, in addition to other symptoms that can vary from person to person. It is considered degenerative because over time the severity of these symptoms worsen, though the rate at which the disease progresses is different for everyone and can be difficult to predict.
Once diagnosed, there are things that can be done to manage symptoms and at times slow the rate of progression of Parkinson’s. Speaking with your physicians about medication management is a very important piece of the puzzle. In addition to this, exercise, stretching, and specific daily movements have been proven to be extremely effective in the fight against Parkinson’s. This is where physical therapy comes into play. Physical therapists can perform an individualized evaluation of each person with Parkinson’s to figure out their specific needs. Below, we have listed some of the most common symptoms we see here at Active Physical Therapy, and how physical therapy can help.
Stiffness: Parkinson’s often causes feelings of stiffness and decreased flexibility, especially throughout the back and hips. This can make things like rolling over in bed or reaching across your body feel challenging. Physical therapists can teach you specific stretches and repetitive movements that can significantly improve your flexibility and mobility, helping you to feel better and move easier.
Weakness: Over time, Parkinson’s targets and weakens certain muscle groups. This often includes the muscles in your back and hips that help you stand up tall, as well as the muscles in your legs that help you power up to stand up from a chair or go up the stairs. In addition, people with Parkinson’s often have more weakness on one side of their body compared to the other (left or right side more affected). Physical therapists can evaluate exactly which muscle groups need the most attention in each person, and can prescribe specific exercises and movements to help.
Balance: People with Parkinson’s often report feeling off balance, and over time experience a higher rate of falls than the general population. Physical therapy can help to train the balance system to help you feel more stable and confident with things like exercise, walking on different surfaces, and going up and down stairs. We can also train safer ways to fall, and help you practice ways to more safely and easily get off of the ground when needed.
Walking: It is common for people with Parkinson’s to walk differently. This can include frequent tripping or catching of the feet on the ground or small objects, having shorter and smaller “shuffling” steps, not swinging both arms, and at times being more hunched forward. Physical therapists can help to train a stronger, more stable, and more efficient gait pattern.
If you or anyone you know have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, physical therapy can be extremely beneficial! At Active Physical Therapy we have clinicians with years of experience who are certified and trained in research backed methods to more effectively treat Parkinson’s Disease, including LSVT-BIG and Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!). Please do not hesitate to reach out to either our Ishpeming or Marquette clinic with any questions or to schedule an appointment today.
Megan Mathieu, PT, DPT, CBIS
Physical Therapist
Active Physical Therapy
Ishpeming, Michigan