Parkinson's - Physiotherapy Management and Interventions

 A person with Parkinson’s may be experiencing several symptoms at the same time; your history taking and physical assessment should elicit the main issue(s) to prioritise as part of the management strategy. Whilst physiotherapy concentrates on the physical manifestations of a disorder, don’t forget to pay attention to how their other symptoms impact on the person’s lifestyle.
Remember also that optimal outcome is achieved through the collaboration with others from a team of health and social care professionals with expertise in other domains of Parkinson’s, from volunteers, family and friends.

Aims of Physiotherapy

• Maintain and improve levels of function and independence, which will help to improve a person’s quality of life
• Use exercise and movement strategies to improve mobility
• Correct and improve abnormal movement patterns and posture, where possible
• Maximise muscle strength and joint flexibility
• Correct and improve posture and balance, and minimise risks of falls
• Maintain a good breathing pattern and effective cough
• Educate the person with Parkinson’s and their carer or family members
• Enhance the effects of drug therapy

Physiotherapy Intervention

The Review version of the European Physiotherapy Guideline divides physiotherapy intervention for Parkinson’s into exercise and movement strategy training.

Exercise

Increasingly being proven to maintain health and well-being in more than just Parkinson’s – exercise can address secondary prevention (focusing on strength, endurance, flexibility, functional practice and balance); exercise for neuroprotection focuses on endurance; and exercise using motor learning principles uses approaches, such as mental imagery and dual task training.

Exercise undertaken in a group setting has the added value of providing a social connection to those becoming increasingly isolated as the condition progresses, or for those who are newly diagnosed, so they can see the benefits of maintaining exercise and activity. A group environment also permits time for people to ask questions and discuss their symptoms and own management strategies with one another.

Movement Strategy Training

Basal ganglia disorders cause deficits in the generation of internal (automatic) behaviour.

Strategies (physical or attentional cues and combined strategies) can help overcome some of the resultant problems, hence have become an increasingly utilised method of intervention for people with Parkinson’s.

We can see immediately the effects of external cueing and attention on improving step length, freezing and turning during walking tasks, and in activities of daily living.

Depending on the cognitive state of the individual, they may be able to learn how to self-instruct in the use of an internal cue or strategy. If less able, the cue or strategy has to come from an external source e.g. a visual strip on the ground, the rhythmic beat of a metronome.

Depending on the stage of the condition, the rationale for intervention choices will differ.