Topic > Physical Therapy for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a lack of dopamine. The three main symptoms in the diagnosis are bradykinesia, tremor and rigidity. With Parkinson's, simple tasks like walking around the house become difficult. The diagnosis is based on the results of the neurological examination and there is no specific test that can clearly identify the disease. Some patients have primitive reflexes due to a frontal lobe problem. Some of the clinical signs include bradykinesia, resting tremor, and rigidity. At the moment there is no cure, but only processes aimed at slowing down the progression. It is important that Parkinson's is diagnosed early so that its progression can be slowed down. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Some symptoms in the early stage are unilateral tremor, rigidity and hypokinesia of gait. Balance and gait deficits occur in the midst of symptom progression. In the late phase, severe disorders of voluntary movements occur, swallowing is impaired and the person becomes dependent. A patient with Parkinson's disease needs a comprehensive program focused on aerobic exercise and resistance. High intensity training shows greater benefits. Aerobic and resistance exercises are the most studied but other exercises should not be neglected. Some research shows that early stretching can slow the progression of stiffness. The main treatment is Levodopa and must be combined with other drugs and given in high doses because most of it is metabolised before reaching the brain. Levodopa may be very effective at reducing motor symptoms initially, but over time it may become less effective. Levodopa can also lead to side effects such as dyskinesia, which are involuntary muscle movements, and orthostatic hypotension, which should be noted by your physical therapist because it can lead to fainting and injury. In newly diagnosed patients dopamine agonists may be used before levodopa to delay levodopa use due to side effects associated with long-term levodopa use. A recent study published on June 21, 2019 found a different activation pathway. Treatment using the previously thought out system has produced mixed results. This study found a new direct drug target. It was previously thought that the enzymes were activated in glial cells, but this new research suggests that it is activated in neurons that produce dopamine. “Mitochondrial targeting of such compounds could be effective in treating Parkinson's patients, and pursuing this is our future strategy.” Physical therapy can help with activities of daily living. Exercise is medicine and has a positive impact on cognition even in healthy individuals. As soon as the patient is diagnosed, it is necessary to focus on maintaining and improving flexibility by focusing on rotation, especially trunk rotation and extension because it is vital for functional activities. There is no specific type of strength training, but strength training is key. Balance is also vital to prevent falls and backward steps should be avoided, while side steps should be implemented. Patients respond well to external signals. A recent study demonstrated that there are benefits to functional gait performance in an auditory cue program. Some recommended exercises are yoga, tai chi, dance, balance and training.