Managing and Treating Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease, also known as (PD) is a chronic and progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. Parkinson's disease is a relatively common neurological disorder, affecting approximately 1-2% of the population over the age of 60. It is estimated that approximately 6.2 million people worldwide have Parkinson's disease, with approximately 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States alone. The incidence of Parkinson's disease increases with age, but it can also occur in younger individuals.

People with Parkinson's disease should receive therapy to improve their quality of life and manage the symptoms of the condition. Physical and Occupational therapy can help improve mobility, balance, and coordination, while speech therapy can address communication challenges. Strive PT & Wellness offers a comprehensive approach and individualized plan therapy for people with Parkinson's disease, making it the best place for individuals to receive the care they need.

The common symptoms of Parkinson's disease include:

1. Tremors: Excessive shaking or trembling, usually in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, or face.
2. Rigidity: Having stiff limbs or a stiff trunk can make you feel rigid.
3. Bradykinesia: Slowness of movement and difficulty with initiating movements.
4. Postural instability: Impaired balance and coordination, making it difficult to stand or walk.
5. Akinesia: Inability to initiate voluntary movements.
6. Dyskinesia: Abnormal, involuntary movements.
7. Loss of automatic movements: Reduced spontaneous movements, such as blinking or smiling.

Why Should People with Parkinson’s Disease Receive Therapy?

Physical therapy can play an important role in managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. A physical therapist can help individuals with Parkinson's improve their balance, coordination, and mobility, and also reduce their risk of falls. Physical therapy may also help alleviate some of the secondary symptoms of Parkinson's, such as muscle stiffness and pain. Some specific physical therapy interventions for Parkinson's disease include:

• Exercise programs: This can include aerobic exercise, resistance training, and stretching, all of which can help improve mobility, flexibility, and balance.
• Gait training: This involves specific exercises to help improve the way an individual walks, including the speed, length, and rhythm of their steps.
• Strength training: This can help improve muscle strength and reduce the risk of falls.
• Balance training: This can involve exercises to improve an individual's balance and reduce their risk of falls.

Occupational therapy can also play a key role in managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Occupation refers to meaningful activity. This can be anything from playing with grandkids, to swinging a tennis racquet. An occupational therapist can help individuals with Parkinson's maintain their independence, improve their quality of life, and manage their symptoms to enjoy the activities that are important to them. Some specific occupational therapy interventions for Parkinson's disease include:

• Task-specific exercises: This involves training individuals to perform specific activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and cooking. This can help improve their ability to perform these tasks, increase their independence, and reduce their risk of falls.
• Adaptive equipment: An occupational therapist can help individuals with Parkinson's identify and use equipment that can make it easier for them to perform their daily activities, such as grab bars, reachers, and special utensils.
• Environmental modifications: An occupational therapist can help individuals with Parkinson's make changes to their living environment to make it safer and more accessible, such as installing grab bars, removing tripping hazards, and reorganizing their kitchen.
• Cognitive and perceptual training: This can involve activities to help improve an individual's cognitive function, memory, and perception, which can be affected by Parkinson's disease.

Speech therapy is a common treatment for individuals with Parkinson's disease to address speech and swallowing difficulties. People with Parkinson's disease may experience changes in speech, including slow or soft speech (hypophonia), monotone speech, and difficulty starting or completing speech (dysarthria). They may also experience swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) which can lead to aspiration and increase the risk of pneumonia.

Speech therapists work with individuals with Parkinson's disease to improve their communication skills, such as increasing volume and improving clarity of speech. They also help patients with Parkinson's to improve their swallowing function through exercises and techniques to strengthen the muscles used in swallowing.

Speech therapy can help people with Parkinson's to maintain their independence and improve their quality of life by improving their ability to communicate effectively and safely eat and drink.

People with Parkinson's disease should receive therapy to improve their quality of life and manage the symptoms of the condition. Physical therapy can help improve mobility, balance, and coordination, while speech therapy can address communication challenges. Strive PT & Wellness offers a comprehensive approach and individualized plan therapy for people with Parkinson's disease, making it the best place for individuals to receive the care they need.

Get to Know Strive PT & Wellness

Strive PT & Wellness is the premier provider of Parkinson's physical therapy services in the area. We specialize in comprehensive rehabilitation programs that involve Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Nutrition Counseling — all in one place! Our experienced team of certified neurological specialists is here to provide top-notch care for those with Parkinson’s Disease. Our comprehensive rehabilitation program caters to our PD patients' individual needs while utilizing various treatment tools and specialized equipment. such as adaptive equipment and computer-assistive technology. Through our services, we strive to help individuals with Parkinson's Disease achieve higher levels of independence to continue living life to their fullest potential.

Why Choose Strive PT & Wellness to Help You Fight Parkinson’s Disease?

Our programs sets us apart from other facilities: clients can receive all these services within one center with our program directed by a certified neurological specialist. We genuinely believe in providing specialized care for Parkinson's patients beyond physical therapy. Our specialists understand how difficult it can be for someone to manage their symptoms alone — which is why we provide an array of personalized treatments under one roof, so you don't have to go anywhere else!

Our goal is to ensure that every single patient receives quality care that will improve their overall well-being — which is why we take pride in offering the best physical therapy services available today!

Join Our Group Class to Overcome Parkinson’s Disease!

We offer group fitness classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 12 pm to provide support, knowledge, and assistance from specialists who understand the unique challenges associated with Parkinson’s, offering helpful strategies for managing symptoms while providing encouragement and motivation throughout each session during the process of recovery. We look forward to helping you win the PD battle so you can live your life confidently!

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