Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive Neurologic Disorder

Parkinson’s Disease Diagnosis by Dr. Kelsey Hanlon PT, DPT

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic disorder that affects more than 10 million people worldwide, including 1 million in the United States. Individuals who have PD exhibit motor and non-motor symptoms that can progress to the point of being disabling. The earlier the diagnosis and intervention, the better the prognosis for slowing, or in some cases reversing, the symptoms of the disease.

The Parkinson’s Foundation lists 10 early signs of Parkinson’s Disease. No single sign is diagnostic, but if you are consistently experiencing more than one of these signs it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor. They include:

• a tremor at rest
• handwriting becoming noticeably smaller
• loss of smell
• beginning to thrash more or act out dreams during sleep
• stiffness with movement that does not improve as you move
• constipation unrelated to diet or medication
• a softer or lower voice
• a masked face that may cause you to look serious even when you are not in a bad mood
• noticing you are hunching forward while standing or walking.

Although there is currently no cure for Parkinson’s Disease, there are treatments that can improve symptoms, delay progression of the disease and maintain quality of life. Medications are available to help mitigate symptoms, though like many medications, there are some side effects. The most important thing that any individual diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease can do is to exercise. An immediate effect of exercise is the release of dopamine, so some individuals will notice an improvement in their symptoms immediately following exercise. The long term benefits of exercise include neuroplasticity, which is an actual changing of the brain’s physiology and structure. This means that the brain can actually rewire itself to use the dopamine that it has available more efficiently, leading to fewer symptoms.

While there are some commonalities, PD is an extremely diverse disorder which can make it challenging to diagnose and treat effectively. Your physical therapist can help come up with an exercise program to specifically address your impairments and help you maintain your independence and function for as long as possible. Call our offices today for an evaluation! (215) 489 – 3234