If you or a loved one is living with Parkinson’s disease, then you know how difficult it can be to manage the symptoms. Geriatric therapy for Parkinson’s disease can help immensely, but for elderly patients, finding your way to a clinic can be a challenge. That’s why First State Rehab at Home will bring our treatment to you.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurological condition marked by muscle tremors, joint and muscle stiffness, impaired balance, and slowed movement. It’s also associated with cognitive impairment.
Because the physical therapists at First State Rehab at Home are movement experts, we can play a vital role in helping you to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. However, we understand that the condition might make visiting our clinic challenging, so we offer in-home geriatric therapy for Parkinson’s disease. We’ll bring your treatment right to your front door!
If you want to learn more about how in-home physical therapy can help you manage Parkinson’s disease, call our friendly staff today!
What Are The Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease?
For a long time, Parkinson’s disease was considered a motor disease–that is, a disease that affects movement. However, we now understand that the condition also includes some non-motor symptoms.
For many people, the first symptom of Parkinson’s disease is a tremor in one hand, which will be most noticeable when you’re at rest. Some people also experience tremors in their jaw or legs. These early symptoms typically don’t interfere with daily life.
Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease does worsen over time. For some people, it may take several years before they see a decline in their mobility or cognitive function. Others may progress much more rapidly.
As the condition progresses, you’ll begin to experience more movement-related symptoms, including the following:
“Shrinking” movements: you’ll shuffle as you walk or swing your arms in smaller arcs, for example
Muscle stiffness, especially in the neck, torso, or shoulders
Unstable or stooped posture and impaired balance
Slow movements that make walking or other basic activities difficult
Difficulty holding facial expressions
Urinary incontinence
People with more advanced Parkinson’s disease also experience several different non-movement-related symptoms, including the following:
Difficulty paying attention to tasks
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Difficulty sleeping
As Parkinson’s disease progresses, both types of symptoms can become more difficult to manage, making it harder to live your day-to-day life. First State Rehab at Home offers its in-home geriatric physical therapy services as a convenient, accessible way to ease your symptoms, reduce your risk of falling, and improve your overall function.
How Geriatric Physical Therapy Can Help Treat Parkinson’s Disease
Everyone experiences Parkinson’s disease differently, so your exact treatments will vary. However, we offer several different approaches to address the many motor impairments brought on by the condition. Here are just a few of the treatment options that are available to you:
Exercise: A dedicated exercise program is essential to maintaining both your physical and cognitive function as Parkinson’s disease progresses. In particular, aerobic exercise, such as riding a stationary bike, can slow cognitive decline while reducing motor-related symptoms.
Strength training is also an important part of treating Parkinson’s disease. One of the reasons Parkinson’s affects your posture is that it causes a decline in your back and hip strength. By rebuilding those muscles, you’ll improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling.
Balance Training: While strength training plays an important role in balance, our therapists will also work with you on dedicated balance exercises like static standing balances or heel-to-toe walking.
Gait Training: Your gait refers to your manner of walking, and one of the major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease is changes in your gait. Our therapists will assess your gait and offer corrections, helping to slow the effect of the disease. When used with balance exercises, gait training can significantly reduce your risk of falling.
Task-specific training: If you struggle with specific regular movements, such as turning, getting up from a chair, or completing certain chores, our therapists will incorporate training on those movements into your exercise program. And because we’ll be in your home, you’ll be more easily able to apply that training in your regular life!
No matter the stage of your Parkinson’s disease, our physical therapists can help you manage your symptoms–and you won’t ever have to find your way to our clinic to do it!
What You Can Expect from Your Sessions
The primary goal of geriatric therapy for Parkinson’s disease is to help you improve or maintain your day-to-day function so you can more comfortably move around your house, take care of chores, and participate in hobbies and recreational activities. For that reason, our in-home therapists will work with you and your family to develop a customized treatment plan based on your symptoms, fitness levels, and goals.
We’ll set a regular schedule for us to come by for your sessions, during which we’ll provide all necessary equipment. Then we’ll guide you through your personalized program, monitor your progress, and provide modifications as needed. During exercise sessions, we’ll ensure you’re performing movements correctly and let you know when you can safely increase your intensity.
Together, we can help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and ensure you have the freedom and mobility to live your life to the fullest!
Get Started with Geriatric Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease Today!
At First State Rehab at Home, we understand how challenging it is to live with Parkinson’s, especially as the condition progresses. If it’s difficult for you to leave your home, you may feel the benefits of physical therapy are out of reach. Fortunately, our in-home physical therapy services right here in (town) are the solution you’re looking for.
If you want to learn more about how we can help you better manage your symptoms, request an in-home appointment with us today!
Tags: Pain Relief, Parkinson Disease, Physical Therapy, Physical therapist, Natural Treatment, Natural Pain Relief
