Therapy can help people with Parkinson’s disease keep moving as long as possible, improve daily functioning, and enhance quality of life.
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement. It is a chronic condition that gets worse over time. According to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, more than one million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease.
What are the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
There is no test for Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis is made by reviewing the patient’s medical history and a physical examination to detect the signs of Parkinson’s disease, which are:
- Resting tremor – a shaking movement that appears when the muscles are relaxed and usually begins in a hand or foot on one side of the body
- Bradykinesia or “slow movement” – a general reduction in movement and increasingly limited range of motion that causes the person with Parkinson’s disease to walk with slow, shuffling steps and may also affect the patient’s speech
- Rigidity – stiffness and inflexibility of the limbs, neck and trunk
- Postural instability – a tendency to be unstable when standing upright
- Freezing – a hesitation before stepping forward that feels to people with Parkinson’s disease as if their feet are stuck or glued to the floor
- Micrographia – as the disease progresses, handwriting becomes smaller
- Mask-like expression – the combination of rigidity and slow movement can cause the face to be less expressive
Other symptoms that people with Parkinson’s disease may experience include stooped posture, impaired motor coordination, decreased arm swing while walking, speech problems and difficulty swallowing.
Who can you see for diagnosis and treatment?
At Glencoe Regional Health, providers in our family medicine, internal medicine, and neurology departments can provide diagnosis and treatment for Parkinson’s disease or refer you to another medical professional as your condition requires. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are a variety of treatments and services that can improve function.
How can therapy help?
Your medical provider will refer you for the types of therapy that are appropriate to your condition. These may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy. The goals for your course of therapy will depend on your symptoms and diagnosis. Common goals include:
- Improving the brain’s ability to make the arms and legs move as required for walking
- Increasing the ability of the foot to clear the floor to decrease the risk of falling while walking
- Recalibrating movement patterns of the body
- Improving the ability to speak loudly and clearly
What can you expect during evaluation and treatment?
At the first visit, your therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to assess how your nerves, muscles and skeleton function together and better understand how your Parkinson’s symptoms affect your ability to perform daily tasks and activities. Next, your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan. She will discuss the treatment plan with you, including the number of treatment sessions and activities that will be included in future therapy sessions to reach your treatment goals.
A therapy program called LSVT BIG may be used to improve range of motion and balance. Specific exercises that emphasize big movements are performed in sitting and standing positions, with or without support as needed. A home exercise program will also be provided and reviewed during therapy sessions. A therapy program called LSVT LOUD may be used to improve vocal loudness and projection.
Which therapists provide treatment for Parkinson’s disease?
Lexi Schons, PT, DPT is trained in the LSVT BIG program, and Julianne Monceaux-Visser, MS, CCC-SLP is trained in the LSVT LOUD program, called “SPEAK OUT!”.
