As I have been enjoying reading research evidence recently ad discussing topics related to physiotherapy in the blog, I thought we would continue looking at physiotherapy topics and this time look at Parkinson’s Disease. This is a condition, that as physiotherapists who see a large number of elderly patients, that we have a large amount of experience at helping patients with and can see the impact that physiotherapy has on patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition caused by a loss of cells in the brain that produce a key chemical called dopamine. Over time this causes reduced mobility, co-ordination problems, muscle weakness and a general reduction in quality of life. Parkinson’s Disease is much more common in the elderly, 1 ½ times more likely in males and is mostly found in the over 55s, there are approximately 130,000 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and given the fact that the UK population is getting older this is only likely to increase.

A growing body of research shows that physiotherapy can help patients with Parkinson’s Disease maintain their quality of life, mobility and strength and certainly here at ThreeSpires Physiotherapy this is the experience of all of our physiotherapists. A thorough assessment of someone with Parkinson’s Disease by a physiotherapist looking at mobility, strength, balance and function can identify areas of difficulty and then the patient can follow a structured exercise programme designed to promote maximum function. Physiotherapists are also able to provide visual and sensory clues that can help patients with some of the difficulties of initiating movement that are prevalent in Parkinson’s Disease.

My experience as a physiotherapist seeing patients with Parkinson’s Disease is that physiotherapy really can make a difference to the quality of life of a person living with Parkinson’s Disease. Generally the earlier in the condition that a patient is seen the easier things are to manage and the better prepared the patient is to manage their condition. Often by the time our physiotherapists see patients their mobility has declined and they are having trouble leaving the house (one of the main reasons people look for our home visit physiotherapy service). If possible we have found that it is better to see these patients before their mobility declines that far and to make sure that they have all the information, strategies and exercises that they need to maintain their mobility and quality of life.

Okay, I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog. If you or anyone you know has Parkinson’s Disease and needs physiotherapy then please get in touch.

For anyone reading: we are a home visit physiotherapy service, based in Lichfield but serving anywhere within a 20 minute drive including areas such as Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Cannock, Burton and Rugeley. We offer a wide range of services including paediatric physiotherapy, post-operative rehabilitation, neurological physiotherapy and neck and back pain relief. If you need further information or would like to book an appointment we can be contacted on 0788 428 1623 or via enquiries@threespiresphysiotherapy.co.uk