Parkinson’s expert at Allied Services highlights current trends and developments in treatment.

Exercise and Parkinson Wellness: What We’re Learning

Parkinson’s disease (PD) progressively impairs movement through the depletion of the neurotransmitter dopamine. By diagnosis, patients with PD have lost at least 50% of their dopamine-producing neurons and are already less active than their peers. Dopamine loss produces both motor and non-motor symptoms. Classic motor symptoms include bradykinesia (slow movement), hypokinesia (small movement), rigidity, resting tremor, postural instability, and impaired kinesthesia (ability to self-monitor and regulate movement). These deficits can lead to deterioration of walking, balance, fine motor skills, and speech production and articulation. Non-motor symptoms of PD, including depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep disorders, constipation, pain, and difficulty with dual tasking/ dividing attention, often compound the motor problems.

Parkinson’s Program Utilizing LSVT BIG and Loud

Parkinson’s is defined as a progressive disease. Although each person with the disease will experience different symptoms, one of the defining features is decreased movement and body control. Parkinson’s affects a person’s mobility and ability to communicate in many different ways, but all people diagnosed with this disease suffer from some sort of movement disorder whether it be tremors, slow movement, rigidity, or instability when standing.