Parkinson’s Disease and Physiotherapy

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that can affect people from all walks of life.  It is a condition where a neurotransmitter called dopamine is not produced at adequate levels in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that relay messages between cells in your brain.  When this transmission in lessened by decreased dopamine it results in altered movement, but as anyone with Parkinson’s will tell you it impacts many non-movement functions also.

You may well ask how can a physiotherapist help me if I have Parkinson’s? However, the good news is that we can!!!!

Parkinson’s is quite common and latest research conservatively estimates indicates that more than 80,000 Australians are living with Parkinson’s.  The average age of diagnosis is 65 years.  Younger people can be diagnosed with Parkinson’s too and this is referred to as Young Onset Parkinson’s.  Around 20% of people living with Parkinson’s are of working age (Parkinson’s Australia).

Patients face increased difficulties with activities of daily living (Kwakkel 2007) and mobility such as gait, transfers, balance and posture (Keus 2007). Ultimately this leads to decreased independence, inactivity and social isolation (Keus 2007), resulting in reduced quality of life (Schrag 2000).

​Tanya and Edel have worked with patients with Parkinson’s Disease to improve their mobility, decrease their risk of falling and therefore minimising the risk of injury. They can help with strategies to assist with freezing of gait and help you improve your overall function to be able to do things like turn in bed, stand up more easily, walk more smoothly.

Physiotherapy for PD focuses on transfers, posture, upper limb function, balance (and falls), gait, physical capacity and (in)activity utilising cueing strategies, cognitive movement strategies and exercise to optimise the patient’s independence, safety and wellbeing, thereby enhancing quality of life (Keus 2004Keus 2007).

What Will Happen When I see a Physiotherapist?

Your physiotherapist will do a full assessment using objective measures which can be used throughout your treatment to monitor your improvement. These will include walking tests looking at your speed and quality of movement and balance tests. You will also be asked to fill out some questionnaires related to your quality of life, freezing of gait and fear of falling.

Based on these assessments your physiotherapist will design a treatment and exercise program for you.

At Bathurst Family Physiotherapy we are passionate in our belief of treating the individual in front of us, not the disease so you will have an individual program designed for you and focused on your goals.

For more information about Parkinson’s disease, you can click on the link below

https://www.parkinsons.org.au/

References:

Keus SHJ, Bloem BR, Hendriks EJM, Bredero‐Cohen AB, Munneke M. Evidence‐based analysis of physical therapy in Parkinson’s disease with recommendations for practice and research. Movement Disorders 2007;22(4):451‐60.

Keus S, Hendriks HJ, Bloem BR, Bredero‐Cohen AB, Goede CJ, Haaren M, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for physical therapy in patients with Parkinsons disease. Dutch Journal of Physiotherapy 2004;114 Suppl 3:1‐94.

Kwakkel G, Goede CJT, Wegen EEH. Impact of physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease: A critical review of the literature. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders 2007;13:S478‐87.

Schrag A, Jahanshahi M, Quinn N. How does Parkinson’s disease affect quality of life? A comparison with quality of life in the general population. Movement Disorders 2000;15(6):1112‐8.