Parkinson's Disease - Get An Overview!

Physiotherapy can be started at any stage of the disease but it is recommended to start with physical therapy as early as possible. Once the disease is diagnosed, the patient should have a consultation with the physiotherapist, who then tailors an appropriate exercise program as per the needs and symptoms of the patient.

A physiotherapist plays a vital role in managing patients with Parkinson s disease. They can provide a great support to these patients by helping them in prioritizing the issues they face. They can assist the patients in choosing the best management strategies according to the signs and symptoms experienced by them. They can educate the patients with Parkinson s and their family members or caretaker.

Weightlifting is not considered as the best choice for an exercise program for PD patients. The patient can perform alternative exercises to weight lifting to maintain the muscle strength. A few of these exercises include modified squats, activities in a standing position to increase strength in the legs, elevating body up to rise on the toes, sitting and rising from a chair repeatedly, and wall push-ups to strengthen the arms.

In the early stages of Parkinson s disease, physiotherapy assessment should focus on educational needs and self-management. The patients should be told how to keep themselves fit, active, and healthy. They should be educated for self-management and should be addressed how to minimize the impact of Parkinson s on their lives. In the later stages, physiotherapist helps in overcoming the difficulty in generating automatic movement and thought using external or internal cues, dual task training, and improving attention span.