The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy this week released an article on physiotherapy treatment for Parkinson’s Disease. Physiotherapy can benefit sufferers of the disease yet early referrals are low with only 16.8% of people referred in the diagnosis phase.
From the article, a specialist physiotherapist states:
“We really want to capture people in the diagnosis phase, so we can encourage them in terms of exercise and maintaining their mobility and independence right from the start.
‘They might not need physiotherapy on a regular basis at that point, but they do need an assessment and intervention advice.”
Physiotherapy Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease
The Parkinson.org website details the benefits of physiotherapy treatment…
A physio will assess how Parkinson’s is affecting your movement and your ability to carry out everyday tasks. This can be done whether you are newly diagnosed, or have been diagnosed for some time.
In the early stages of Parkinson’s, your physio can give you advice, education and support in keeping up your fitness levels and maintaining a good posture to help you remain independent.
As the condition progresses, your physio may focus on your walking, posture and balance. They may also start to work with your support network − involving your family and carers as part of your treatment.
These are some of the ways your physiotherapist may be able to help you.
Helping you keep fit
A physio can help you to maintain your fitness by providing an exercise programme for you to follow at home. They may also give advice on suitable sports activities, such as golf, or an exercise class like yoga or t’ai chi.
They can show you how to stretch, how to position stiff muscles and joints to maintain good posture, and how to keep your joints flexible. This will help you to move more smoothly, and will relieve stiffness.
Exercise can also help with stress. The evidence is building that exercise may have extra benefits for people with Parkinson’s, such as helping you to walk more quickly and improve your balance.
Helping you to move about
Physios can use occupational therapy to teach you techniques that make some automatic movements, such as walking, sitting down and standing up, easier. These things may become more difficult as your Parkinson’s progresses.
Helping you to maintain independence
If certain movements are difficult, such as getting out of a chair or turning in bed, a physio can teach you different ways of doing these things. This may be done in a physiotherapy department or the physio may visit you at home. They can also give advice on aids and equipment that you could use, or alterations you could make to your home, to make getting around easier and safer. In some cases, it may be an occupational therapist that deals with home adaptations.
Always check with a physio before you buy a piece of equipment or an aid. No two people with Parkinson’s are alike, so what might work for one person might not suit someone else.
Helping you to prevent or manage falls
The physio may work with you on strength and balance training, and improving your ability to walk. This training will improve your confidence and help to reduce falls and freezing. They can also teach you techniques to help you get up if you fall.
Often a physio will work with an occupational therapist to make sure your home is hazard free.
Contact us today to discuss treatments available at Leyland Physiotherapy…
