Five ways physical therapy is helpful for Parkinson’s patients

Hand tremors, stiffness in the limbs and trunk, and slowness are symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition that originates in the brain. This condition occurs when neurons in the movement control part of the brain become impaired or start to die. It’s estimated that about 60,000 Americans develop Parkinson’s every year. Physical therapy is a treatment option that can help Parkinson’s patients improve their quality of life; below are some of the many benefits of physical therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease. 

Five helpful benefits of physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease

1. Slowing hypokinesia — Hypokinesia is the increasingly smaller, shuffling movements that Parkinson’s disease causes. Physical therapy for Parkinson’s disease can help slow the progression of hypokinesia. It does so by training you to make overexaggerated physical movements, which can help retrain your muscles. 

2. Reinforcing reciprocal movements — Every time you swing your arms as you walk, you’re making a reciprocal movement. People with Parkinson’s often have difficulty doing reciprocal movements. Physical therapists can help you practice reciprocal movements so that your body is more likely to do them. 

3. Improving balance — What you see, your inner ear and how your feet sense the ground underneath you are all involved in keeping your balance. However, Parkinson’s can lead to changes in your gait, or how you walk. Such changes can make it harder to keep your balance and increase your risk of falling. Physical therapy can include gait training and balance exercises that can reduce the impact Parkinson’s has on your balance. 

4. Reducing stiffness — Parkinson’s typically causes your limbs and trunk muscles to stiffen up. Stiffness in these muscles can make it harder to walk and do other normal daily activities. Physical therapists can show you how to do therapeutic exercises designed to reduce your stiffness. They can also build you a personalized stretching program that you can use daily. 

5. Improving strength — The body’s muscles tend to weaken as you age. Yet Parkinson’s patients tend to develop muscle weakness faster than other people. Doing strengthening exercises recommended by your physical therapist can help. Improving your strength with physical therapy can also help improve your balance. 

Find beneficial physical therapy for Parkinson’s at Advent PT

Want to try physical therapy for your Parkinson’s disease? Our Advent Physical Therapy team is ready and willing to help you find personalized care for this neurological condition. We can do a free screening to determine how far your Parkinson’s has progressed. Additionally, our team has experience building individualized therapy plans for Parkinson’s patients. We even offer at-home care and virtual therapy services that can help you treat Parkinson’s from home. 

Contact our team today for more information about our Parkinson’s treatment options or to schedule your initial appointment.