
Physical Therapy For Parkinson's Disease in Harrogate, TN
Parkinson's disease is an age-related progressive and degenerative brain disorder that affects the nervous systems and inadvertently body parts that are controlled by the nerves. This condition is the second most common degenerative disease that affects older citizens, after Alzheimer's disease. While Parkinson's disease can affect adults of all races, some races are less likely to develop the condition compared to others.
Parkinson's disease causes deterioration in some parts of the brain, leading to a decline in its ability to perform certain functions. This condition causes more severe symptoms over time. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may be motor or non-motor related. They include tremors, stiffness, shaking, difficulties with balance and coordination, trouble swallowing, loss of sense of smell, etc. The effects of Parkinson’s disease on muscle control, the sense organs, and mental health can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life.
While Parkinson’s disease does not have a definite cure, physical therapy at Pinnacle Performance Physical Therapy can help to manage Parkinson’s disease and ensure that patients can live a normal life, despite their condition. Our specialists employ several physical therapy techniques to treat and manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Causes of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease affects the basal ganglia (a group of interlinked brain structures that handle complex processes involving the entire body). This condition causes constant deterioration of the basal ganglia, making you lose abilities that the area of the brain controls.
In addition to damaging the basal ganglia, Parkinson’s disease disrupts the brain’s chemistry, leading to the under-secretion of hormones. If you suffer from Parkinson’s disease, you may lack enough important neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. The lack of enough neurotransmitters due to Parkinson’s disease causes slowed movements, tremors, and other motor symptoms.
While we have established how Parkinson’s disease affects the body, what causes the condition? There are several speculations about the possible causes and risk factors of Parkinson’s disease. However, genetics is the only confirmed cause of Parkinson’s disease. Other causes of the condition are referred to as idiopathic.
Genetic Parkinson’s Disease
Genetics is the only confirmed cause of Parkinson’s disease. This means that you may inherit the disease from one or both of your parents. Although researchers have connected about seven different genes to Parkinson’s disease, genetics causes only about ten to fifteen percent of all Parkinson’s.
Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease
This type of Parkinson’s disease is caused by non-genetic factors. One idiopathic cause of Parkinson’s disease is the way your body processes a protein known as ɑ-synuclein, according to experts. They believe that the inability of the body to break them down causes them to build up in various unwanted places and certain cells, leading to toxic effects, cell damage, and eventually Parkinson’s disease.
Although it is not yet proven, some researchers also believe that environmental factors may cause Parkinson’s disease. They believe that the use of pesticides and herbicides may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are majorly divided into 2 - Motor and non-motor symptoms.
Motor Symptoms
These symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are related to movement. The most common ones include:
- Tremors even while the muscles are resting
- Bradykinesia (Slowed movements)
- Unstable posture and gait
- Dysphagia (trouble with swallowing)
- Stiffness and rigidity of body parts
- Drooling (due to the loss of facial muscle control)
- Hypomimia (little to no change in facial expressions)
Non-Motor Symptoms
These refer to symptoms that are not connected to movement or muscle control. They include:
- Loss of sense of smell (Anosmia)
- Urinary incontinence
- Sexual dysfunction
- Trouble thinking or concentrating
- Constipation
- Depression
- Sleep disorders
The Role of Physical Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease
Physical Therapy Treatment For Parkinson's Disease in Harrogate, TN is a healthcare specialization that aims to promote, maintain, and restore physical and mental health, and improve the overall quality of life, through hands-on care, patient education, and several other non-invasive techniques. Physical therapy can manage Parkinson’s disease in its early stages, reversing its effects and ensuring that the patient can live a normal and independent life. The primary goals of physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease include:
- Strengthening the muscles
- Improving mobility and gait
- Relieving pain and reducing muscle stiffness
- Enhancing balance and coordination
- Improving posture
- Increasing flexibility and range of motion
- Restoring lost function
- Promoting overall independence.
Physical Therapy Techniques for Parkinson’s Disease
After you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, your physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess your strength, flexibility, walking gait, endurance, balance, coordination, etc., to determine your condition's severity and the best treatment approach. The results of this evaluation are used to develop a personalized treatment plan to meet your treatment needs and goals. Common physical therapy techniques and interventions for Parkinson's Disease Physical Therapy in Harrogate, TN include:
- Aerobic exercises
- Resistance training
- Strength training
- Amplitude training
- Reciprocal movement/patterns
- Balance training
- Stretching and flexibility training
- Gait training
- Dual-task practice
- Movement cueing
- Speech and breathing exercises
These physical therapy techniques and interventions can help restore lost function, promote independence, and improve overall quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Physical therapy for Parkinson's disease?
Physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease is a healthcare practice that promotes, maintains, and restores mobility, function, and overall physical and mental health in people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
What kind of physical therapy do Parkinson's patients take?
The physical therapy techniques that Parkinson’s patient takes vary, depending on the therapist’s assessment of the patient’s condition and treatment needs. However, common physical therapy techniques for Parkinson’s patients may include aerobic exercises, resistance training, strength training, amplitude training, reciprocal movement, etc.
Which therapy is best for Parkinson's disease?
Physical therapy exercise is the best non-invasive treatment for Parkinson’s disease. This technique can restore function and manage the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Conclusion
Physical therapy is a non-pharmacological approach to treating and managing Parkinson’s disease. At our facility in Harrogate, TN, we can use this non-invasive yet effective treatment method to improve the mobility, strength, balance, and overall quality of life of people suffering from Parkinson’s. Therefore, if you are suffering from Parkinson’s disease, you should consider treatment at Pinnacle Performance Physical Therapy.