Physio for Parkinson's Disease

NICE guidelines support physiotherapy for patients with Parkinson’s

Recently updated NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) guidelines have suggested that individuals with a diagnosis of Parkinson’s should have an assessment from a specialist neurological physiotherapist and on-going access to physiotherapy.  NICE advocates that physiotherapy can help to manage symptoms and maintain an independent lifestyle. It can also reduce the number of admissions into hospital.

NICE quality statement (updated February 2018)
Adults with Parkinson's disease are referred to physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy if they have problems with balance, motor function, activities of daily living, communication, swallowing or saliva.
NICE also advises early input after a diagnosis of Parkinson’s from a specialist physiotherapist in this field. This can help people to keep in control of their condition and symptoms and allow them to live well and independently with Parkinson’s. This recommendation was updated in 2017 and highlights the benefit that physiotherapy can contribute to in the management of Parkinson’s short and long-term.
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Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition, which affects an area of the brain known as the substantia nigra. This area normally produces a chemical known as dopamine, which helps to control the coordination of movement. In Parkinson’s, the nerve cells in the substantia nigra become damaged meaning that dopamine production is reduced. This can cause symptoms such as tremors (shaky movements), slowness of walking and rigidity (stiffness in muscles and joints).  Other common symptoms are freezing (feet feel ‘stuck’ to the ground), falls, speech and swallowing difficulties and pain. 

Bath Neuro Physio 01225 683007

​How can physiotherapy help?
There are many different treatment options for people with Parkinson’s depending on the specific symptoms and goals of the individual. These include:

• Gait (walking) analysis
• Advice on walking aids
• Strengthening exercise programmes
• Looking at daily activities and ways to make these easier and safer
• Strategies to manage some of the symptoms in Parkinson’s such as freezing, difficulty turning and stiffness
• Respiratory physiotherapy if you have difficulty with secretions and breathing
• ‘Hands on’ (manual) therapy to help with joint and muscle stiffness
• Strategies to reduce and manage falls
• Pain education
• Advice and teaching for carers and family members

At Physioimpulse, our neurological physiotherapist Katie has extensive experience and special interest in working with patients who have Parkinson’s. Please contact 01225 683007 or email katie.young@physioimpulse.co.uk to discuss your individual needs.