Parkinson's
Connie Vosberg COTA/L
Has the Physician diagnosed you with Parkinson’s? Have you noticed an increase of tightness, pain, weakness, especially in the muscles and joints? These are just some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. When a person gets this diagnosis it can be very devastating. Remember a Physician has to diagnose you with Parkinson’s. Physical or Occupational therapy cannot cure Parkinson’s but therapy can enable you to compensate for the changes brought on by Parkinson’s.
A Physical Therapist can educate and instruct a person on exercises to strengthen and loosen muscles. The good news is most of these exercises can be done at home. The goal of a Physical Therapist is to improve your independence and quality of life by improving movement, function and to provide relief from pain.
Physical therapy can assist a person in these areas:
- Balance problems
- Lack of coordination
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Gait/walking
- Immobility
- Weakness
- Education provided for diaphragm breathing
Both Physical and Occupational therapists can provide the following:
- Educate the person on how the course of the disease can affect your life
- Work along side the person and the family to adapt routines that enable them to carry out activities in their daily life
- Teach and instruct the person with Parkinson’s and their family new strategies for coping with physical and psychological problems that can affect their daily lives
- Advise on equipment to use at home, work, or for leisure to keep the person active in their everyday life
- Provide information and support to the person on how to use transportation in the community, and to be able to enjoy their leisure time to the fullest
- Help a person to maintain and improve their social life through support programs
Occupational therapists help people with Parkinson’s and their families to identify the problems affecting their lifestyle, by looking at physical, social and emotional needs. When these difficulties have been identified a person can be assisted in these ways:
- Arm and hand therapy
- Handwriting aids
- Home modification
- Cooking and homemaking adaptations
- Driver evaluation and vehicle modification information
- Computer modifications
- Workplace or work equipment modifications
- Leisure skill development
- Manual or electric wheelchair use
- Bathtub and toilet use equipment
- Dressing and grooming aids
For more information regarding Parkinson’s and how to adapt a new lifestyle contact Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy at 1-218-641-7725
