Monday, March 25, 2024

7 Facial Exercises For Parkinson’s Disease

Are There Any Risks Of Exercising With Parkinsons Disease

7 Facial Exercises for Parkinsons Fighters ( Improve Drooling, Chewing of Food, etc. )

Some symptoms, like Parkinsons tremors, may seem worse during exercise. But exercise generally improves tremors and other symptoms in the long run.

Reduce challenges by stretching before and after exercise. Use good form to prevent injury. And avoid slippery floors, poor lighting and tripping hazards. If you have pain, stop and rest.

Pushing yourself too hard during exercise can lead to injury. Start slowly and increase intensity and duration over time. Keep a log to track your exercise choices and how you feel. Eventually, youll learn what works best for you.

How Does Exercise Change The Brain

What happens in the brain to produce these benefits? A study conducted by Beth Fisher and her team at the University of Southern California found that on a day-to-day basis, people with PD who exercised moved more normally than those who did not.

The study also found that in looking at mice that had exercised under conditions parallel to a human treadmill:

  • Exercising did not affect the amount of dopamine in the brain, but the mice that exercised the brain cells were using dopamine more efficiently and their dopamine signals lasted longer.
  • Exercise improves efficiency by modifying the areas of the brain where dopamine signals are received the substantia nigra and basal ganglia.
  • Based on these findings, the research team believes exercise may help the brain maintain old connections, form new ones and restore lost ones. In certain situations, the neuroplasticity created from exercise in people with PD may outweigh the effects of neurodegeneration.

    Epidemiological Studies Have Demonstrated The Benefits Of Exercise As It Relates To Pd Risk And Pd Severity

    These findings are summarized in this paper and include:

    • Those in midlife who routinely engage in moderate to vigorous exercise have a lower risk of developing PD than those who dont
    • Cardiovascular fitness is associated with better cognitive and motor scores in those who have PD
    • Longevity in PD is associated with increased physical activity

    Also Check: Latest Developments In Parkinson’s Treatment

    Parkinsons On The Move

    Cost: Free

    Thirty-one archived workouts for those with Parkinsons. Videos are sortable by level of difficulty, area of the body to focus on, and preferred position . Other pages on this website offer free recipes and articles about nutrition and PD.

    Also available is the Parkinsons On The Move Exercise Library. This collection of 58 short videos each focus on stretching or strengthening a specific part of the body.

    Cost: Free

    Suzanne Chen leads 43-minutes of stretch and strengthening exercises for those with Parkinsons. Equipment to follow along include an elastic band, light weights , a 8-9 inch soft ball , and a stable chair with no arms.

    Cost: Free

    Eight YouTube exercise videos for those with Parkinsons, including four focused on neuromuscular integration, two total body conditioning and one seated strength. Most videos are about 30 to 45 minutes.

    Cost: Free

    Similar to Rock Steady Boxing in the US, this Australian app is available from Google play or the App Store is designed for early stage Parkinsons disease. It includes 10 PD Warrior core exercises for free with upgrades and additional bundles available via in app purchases to customize your workout. Each exercise is demonstrated by a physiotherapist.

    Cost: Free

    Recordings of nearly 30 exercise classes that include a warm up, low/medium/high intensity exercises, boxing, dance, and cool down. There are also recordings of choir for PD classes and communications classes.

    Cost: Free

    Cost: Free

    Live Large With Parkinson’s At The Countryside Y

    facial

    Cost: Free

    These two 25-minute exercise classes are designed for people with Parkinson’s. The exercises may be done seated or standing, supported by a chair. These videos were created in March/April 2020.

    Purchase Info: www.lsvtglobal.com or email

    Cost: $28 for DVD or download $15/year streaming

    Videos are designed for people with PD to use as an adjunct to LSVT BIG treatment delivered by an LSVT BIG certified clinician. The videos can also be used during the month of therapy and after therapy as a motivation to practice and keep moving. Volume 1 contains standard exercises while standing. Volume 2 contains exercises adapted to seated and supine positions, plus a chapter for caregivers. Available in English, German and Japanese.

    Purchase Info: Ohana Pacific Rehab Services, 808-262-1118, online

    Cost: $24.50 for DVD $19.50 for book $40 for DVD and book

    This program focuses on exercises, flexibility, and pragmatic solutions for walking, moving, falling, and getting up off the floor. Adaptive equipment is reviewed. Demonstrators have PD. Three levels of exercise shown. Designed by a physical therapist.

    Recommended Reading: West Michigan Parkinson’s Association

    Can Masked Face Be Treated

    There are no specific medications for treating masked face. However, treatments for Parkinsons disease can help reduce masked face, as well as other symptoms of this condition.

    Some medications used to treat Parkinsons disease focus on increasing dopamine activity in the brain. Some examples of these medications include carbidopa and levodopa.

    Levodopa is one of the main medications used to treat Parkinsons. It is a natural chemical that converts to dopamine in the brain. It is often paired with carbidopa, which helps levodopa work more efficiency and prevents certain side effects like nausea and vomiting.

    Together, carbidopa-levodopa can be given as an:

    • oral medication
    • infusion that is administered through a feeding tube directly into the small intestine

    Other medications for rigidity, as well as facial exercises and physical therapy, may also be recommended to treat masked face.

    Participating in activities that you love or feel passionate about may help improve your facial expressions. This includes creative pursuits, such as singing, dancing, or watching movies and plays.

    What Types Of Exercise Can Help Manage Parkinsons Disease

    There are several types of exercises you can do to manage Parkinsons disease. You can create a varied routine based on your specific concerns, fitness level, and overall health.

    Aim to do at least a few minutes of movement each day. Include exercises that improve cardiovascular health, flexibility, and strength. If you change up your exercises every week. your body can learn new ways to move.

    There are a few different types of exercise that may be especially helpful to those with Parkinsons, including:

    • physical and occupational therapy

    Read Also: Lewy Body Dementia Vs Parkinsons

    Should I Talk To My Healthcare Provider Before I Start Exercising If I Have Parksinson’s Disease

    Talk to your neurologist and your primary care provider before starting a new exercise regimen. They can:

    • Counsel you on how intense your exercises can be.
    • Recommend exercises appropriate for your individual health.
    • Refer you to a physical therapist to create a personal exercise program.
    • Warn about exercises to avoid based on your particular challenges or limitations.

    Study Design And Participants

    Facial Exercises for Stroke, Bell’s Palsy, & Parkinson’s Disease

    This was a prospective, single-center, parallel-group, single-blinded RCT conducted between June 2018 and April 2019. Freezers were recruited from the Movement Disorders Clinic in the School of Medicine at University of São Paulo. The diagnosis of idiopathic PD was confirmed by a movement disorders specialist in accordance with UK Parkinsons Disease Society Brain Bank diagnostic criteria. A movement disorders specialist assessed probable FOG using videos of objective tests and the NFOGQ. Individuals with PD were classified as freezers if FOG was observed in the videos and if they answered affirmatively item 1 and scored > 1 on item 3 and 5 of the NFOGQ during ON medication status. Eligibility criteria were: 1) Hoehn and Yahr stage range 34 2) stable dopaminergic therapy 2 months before and during the period of study 3) 4985 years of age 4) able to walk safely for 20 m without walking aids 5) absence of neurological disorders 6) absence of significant arthritis, musculoskeletal or vestibular disorders, severe tremor, claustrophobia, and metal in the body 7) high quality of brain volumes acquired during the fMRI 8) Mini-Mental State Examination score > 23 9) no physical exercise practice in the three months preceding study commencement. Individuals gave their written informed consent to participate. The study was approved by Universitys Ethical Committee , registered at the National Clinical Trial and at the Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry .

    Recommended Reading: My Dad Died From Parkinson’s

    Loss Of Facial Expression/ Masked Face

    Generally, we communicate not only through words but through subtle, fast-moving changes in facial expression.Its easy for most of us to understand why having an expressionless face could be traumatic.A person who isnt able to convey these emotions facially would be at a loss since others may discount or misinterpret words when the expressions dont match up.

    Masked face is the loss of facial expressions commonly associated with Parkinsons disease.As such, we tend to use the term hypomimia to describe facial masking within the context of Parkinsons. It suggests the actual loss of motor control rather a physical manifestation of emotional blunting. Hypomimia can affect both voluntary facial movements and involuntary ones .

    In Parkinsons, masking can develop as the progressive loss of motor control extends to the facial muscles as it does to other parts of the body. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that transmits the signal from the brain to the muscles to produce movement. When PD damages the nerve cells that produce dopamine, the motor symptoms and ability to control muscles are affected.Certain medications can significantly blunt a persons emotional response.

    Optic Nerve Oculomotor Nerve Trochlear Nerve Abducens Nerve

    Cranial Nerve 2 – “a paired nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.”

    Cranial Nerve 3 – “supplies muscles that enable most movements of the eye and that raise the eyelid and enables the ability to focus on near objects as in reading.”

    Cranial Nerve 4 – ” a motor nerve that supplies the superior oblique muscle” which controls turning of the eye in the socket, in particular the actions of looking down or towards the nose.

    Cranial Nerve 6 – “a motor nerve that supplies the lateral rectus muscle of the eye” which controls turning of the eyes outwards, away from the nose.

    Eye and vision problems abound in Parkinson’s Disease, from dry eyes, involuntary closing of the eye lids, to fixed and unfocused eyes. Visual problems that have been strongly correlated with PD include issues with: visual acuity contrast sensitivity color vision motion perception visual disturbances and hallucinations. Physical and structural changes to the eye and retina have also been found in people with Parkinson’s, as determined by a number of modern eye examination methods. Therapies which involve injecting small amounts of dopamine into the eyeball have proven successful in PD, and strategies based on this are being developed.

    Read Also: Cost Of Parkinson’s Treatment

    Best Physical And Occupational Therapy Exercises

    Physical therapy exercises target your areas of concern. They can help develop your strength, balance, and coordination. Youll also enhance your functional mobility by improving concentration, flexibility, and range of motion.

    Occupational therapy exercises are intended to help you perform daily activities related to work, school, or home with greater ease.

    Ways Physical Therapists Help Slow The Progression Of Parkinsons Disease

    Parkinson

    It is well-known that exercise of any kind is good for each persons health, both body and mind. But did you know that it is even more important for those living with Parkinsons disease? Physical therapy is key to slowing down the disease. And it helps those affected to stay as independent as possible.

    You May Like: Judy Woodruff Health Problems

    Recommended Reading: Is Parkinson’s Caused By Inflammation

    What Can Be Done To Thaw One Out When Freezing Occurs

    There are various cues and/or tricks that can be tried with your physical therapist to determine which cue will work best for you. Examples of such cues include:

    • Visual cues: Provide feedback to through your eyes and visual system to provide you with a location to place your foot when stepping. Visual cues include: lasers on canes and U-step walkers, placing lines of tape on the floor, placing Xs of tape in a semi-circle in tight spaces, and stepping over the foot of the therapist while gait training.
    • Auditory cues: We rely on feedback through our ears to establish a rhythm step to the beat. These cues come in the form of music, counting out loud 1,2, 3.., or using a metronome. There are also applications for smart phones that can provide sounds like a metronome that your therapist can demonstrate for you!

    Not every cue works for every patient! But it is important to consult with your PT to find which one will help you.

    References:Lohnes CA, Earhart GM. The impact of attentional, auditory, and combined cues on walking during single and cognitive dual tasks in Parkinson disease. Gait and Posture 33 478-483.

    Plotnik M, Giladi N, Balash Y, Peretz C, Hausdorff J. Is freezing of gait in Parkinsons Disease Related to Asymmetric Motor Function? Annals of Neurology. Vol 57 No 5, May 2005

    Can The Brain Change

    We know that in PD, neurons that produce the chemical transmitter dopamine are damaged and lost. There is a period of time between when the loss of neurons begins and when PD movement symptoms start to show. By the time most people are diagnosed, nearly 80 percent of their dopamine neurons are already gone.

    During this period, the brain changes, compensating for the loss of dopamine neurons which occurs during the process of neurodegeneration. Scientists call this ability to change and compensate exercise-dependent neuroplasticity . This same process occurs throughout life in response to experience. As children learn motor skills, for example, their brain cells make new connections. This process continues through adulthood.

    Exercise may affect the brain by driving this compensation, or plasticity. People with PD who exercise regularly can move more normally than those who do not. We believe that exercise may be contributing to neuroplasticity helping the brain maintain old connections, form new ones and restore lost ones. This may outweigh the effects of neurodegeneration.

    Read Also: Parkinson’s Disease Resting Tremor

    If I Exercise Will I Still Need My Parkinsons Medications

    Some people find that exercise helps them reduce the doses of Parkinsons medications over time. But exercise is not a replacement for your medications. In fact, some people need more medications so they can stay active. Dont make changes to your medications without talking to your healthcare providers.

    Database Management And Quality Control

    7 Strengthening Exercises for Parkinson’s Fighters – Improve Walking, Posture and Balance

    Our research team will take effective measures to ensure the quality of research. Particularly, we will adopt the double entry method in order to ensure quality of data. The statistician will compare the two databases through the program, and in case of inconsistencies in the input results, he/she will check to identify the error. After final confirmation, the database will be saved and kept by a special person. Any future changes to the database shall be agreed upon, in writing, by the clinical study director, statistician, and data manager.

    You May Like: Parkinson’s And Loss Of Appetite

    How Do I Create An Exercise Program

    A visit to a physical therapist is a good place to start building an exercise program. Physical therapists can talk with you about your symptoms and personal goals to design an exercise program that is effective and enjoyable. They can also help you find exercise classes in your area.

    Incorporating activities that have been shown to address specific symptoms can help you practice and maintain everyday motor functions that directly impact quality of life. Some exercise principles to consider for your exercise program include:

    1. Use BIG, full amplitude, whole-body movements to help slow, small movements.

    2. Practice dual tasks and cognitive challenges when appropriate and safe.

    3. Practice self-initiated and self-paced movement to help with freezing.

    4. Practice reciprocal, coordinated arm and leg movements to help uneven arm swings.

    5. Practice tall, upright posture to help with stooped posture.

    6. Use strong voices while exercising to help with voice quality.

    7. Improve sensory integration by varying surfaces and reducing visual input.

    8. Practice fast movements to help with slow movements.

    9. Build mind/body connections for self-awareness and relaxation.

    10. Do activities that are challenging, engaging, fun, social and safe.

    Recommended Reading: Judy Woodruff Health Problems

    Big Movements For Big Improvements In Parkinsons Disease Symptoms

    A progressive neurological disorder, Parkinsons disease can affect the quality of every move you make. It can make you move more slowly, take smaller steps and cause tremors.

    LSVT BIG, an intensive therapy program, helps patients with Parkinsons disease reduce their symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. The specially designed program helps you improve your balance, move faster and make larger motions.

    Don’t Miss: Boxing And Parkinson’s Disease

    Tips For Living With Masked Face

    If you have Parkinsons, masked face can be a barrier between you and those you care about most. It may also impact the relationships you have with caregivers, including your doctors.

    Masked face may also be frustrating for caregivers at times, who find it hard to understand what their loved one is feeling or thinking.

    Here are a few tips for living with masked face:

    • If you or your loved one has masked face, discuss it with a doctor. In many instances, a change of medication or dosage may help to alleviate or reduce this symptom.
    • Keep active for as long as possible by participating in physical and creative activities.
    • If youre a caregiver to someone who has this symptom, be aware that apathy and depression may or may not accompany it. Work on communicating by asking questions without assuming the answers. Are you OK? probably wont be as effective as Are you sad? or Are you enjoying this outing?
    • Try to be empathetic and to use empathetic phrasing whenever possible. Let the person know you understand their frustration and what theyre feeling.
    • If youre a caregiver to a loved one with a chronic condition, its vital that you take care of yourself as well as them. Find someone who can shoulder the day-to-day with you. Also, make sure to carve out time for self-care.

    Recommendations For Rehabilitation Measures During The Covid

    Parkinson

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommend to curb the spreading of COVID-19 and reschedule elective procedures and treatments. Healthcare professionals were asked to resort to telemedicine for all other, either time-sensitive or functionally disabling, indications. This led to a quick implementation of telemedicine to replace routine or emergency clinical visits with remote check-ups via telephone or internet to extend care into the patients homes. While the chronic movement restrictions caused by PD do not meet the criteria for time-sensitive indications , they qualify as functionally disabling.

    Continuing with adapted physical activity and rehabilitation is therefore strongly recommended with either on-site measures, including reduction of patient count, prohibition of escorts, symptoms screening, physical distancing, and personal protective equipment, or via the increasing opportunity of telemedicine and telerehabilitation,,,,,. Ideally, a regime of moderate-intensity exercise at home 57 days per week is recommended, wherever possible outside,,.

    Telerehabilitation

    Table 1 Overview of telerehabilitation methods.Fig. 1: Decision tree for remote exercise-based treatment options.

    Virtual reality

    Motivational tools

    Apps

    Recommended Reading: Does Parkinson’s Cause Breathing Problems

    Popular Articles
    Related news