Parkinson’s Disease

People with Parkinson’s Disease present classically with tremor in an upper limb, stiffness/rigidity of muscles, slowness of movement and difficulty initiating movement.

They can typically develop

• a kyphosis of their thoracic spine, (bent posture) and this effects their ability to lift their head, use their upper limbs and therefore contributes to difficulties with swallowing, speech, functional activity and socialisation.

• a shuffling gait pattern/ catching feet and tripping/unable to turn readily/ freezing/rushing and unable to stop or control walking.

• poor balance.

• difficulty rolling over and getting in/out of bed due to lack of rotation in their body and general stiffness in their limbs.

• difficulty with dexterity/coordination of upper limbs

However, Parkinson's is a very individual condition, with each person experiencing different symptoms and to a different degree.

Appropriate Drug management is the key factor in the management of Parkinson’s Disease but also early intervention by physiotherapy is essential in developing a persons awareness regarding posture, balance and principles of efficient movement so that they become aware of how their condition is likely to effect them and gain some control over preventing postures becoming static, rigid and fixed.

Efficient movement and postural adjustments are achieved through a constant interplay of activity throughout the body to ensure that a persons centre of gravity is moving appropriately within any particular base of support and when moving from one base of support to another. Ie when moving from sitting to standing.

Abilities can fluctuate greatly throughout the day, dependent upon medication levels, but clients need to maintain their range of movement, posture and balance to be able gain optimum efficiency at peak times.

Physiotherapy involves hands on mobilisation of stiff/tight muscles and joints and the facilitation of the most efficient postural adjustments, movement, tone and balance available to an individual to enable them to achieve functional activity at an optimum level for them.

 Parkinsonism