Parkinson's
People with Parkinson’s may find they have problems with everyday movements like walking or getting in and out of a chair or bed. Or they may be curious to know what physical activity they can and should be doing. Physiotherapy can help.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or you’ve had Parkinson’s for some time, your physiotherapist will assess how Parkinson’s affects your movement. Seeing a specialist neurological physiotherapist can help people in many different ways .
General mobility & falling
Some people with Parkinson’s may find certain actions more difficult, including walking, turning in bed, or sitting down and standing up from a chair. Physiotherapists can teach you ways to help make these movements easier. A physiotherapist can also give advice on aids & equipment you could use or alterations you could make to your home. This can help make it easier and safer for you to move around independently, both at home and while you’re out and about.
People with Parkinson's may be more prone to falling, particularly in relation to stiffness or weakness. Your physiotherapist can work with you on strength and balance training. This can improve any problems you may have with walking, especially when you’re turning. This could be via an individual exercise programme or referring to our balance & strengthening class. People who experience freezing are also more at risk of falling. Physiotherapists can show you ways to overcome freezing and therefore reduce this risk. They can also teach you ways to help you get down safely on to the floor, and up again if you do fall.
Pain
There are different types of pain that can affect people with Parkinson's. This can include musculoskeletal (muscle) pain, which is related to Parkinson's rigidity and reduced movement of the joints. It usually feels like an ache in the neck and back, but any part of the body can be affected. Dystonia is another type of pain that is common in Parkinson's. It's caused by involuntary muscle contractions and for some people the pain can be severe.
A physiotherapist can assess your pain to try to find the cause. They can use different methods to help ease the pain. These include manual therapy, when your physiotherapist moves parts of your body using their hands, stretching, specific & general exercise prescription. Hydrotherapy can also be a very effective form of pain relief, permitting exercise that is often not feasible on land for many different reasons.
Not all pain is related to Parkinson’s. You may have a condition like arthritis, or another injury that needs physiotherapy, which may be more appropriate for our MSK Physios
Exercise
Physical activity has a positive impact both physically and mentally. It can be as important as getting the right dose of medication. Being active is important for everyone. It can make you feel good inside and out. It can maintain your health. It can lift your mood. And if you have Parkinson’s, it can help manage your symptoms. The more physically active you are, the easier it is to live well with Parkinson’s.
Just like Parkinson’s, the right physical activity is different for everyone. But being active is always most effective when you push yourself. There are lots of exercise options for you at Harbourside alongside any specific exercise & advice prescribed by the neuro Physios: balance & strength classes, aqua circuits classes, Nordic walking tuition, Ai Chi class , strength class, HIIT Circuit class.