Monday, March 25, 2024

Acupuncture For Parkinson’s Tremor

Are Complementary Therapies Beneficial

Tremor’s Parkinson’s disease – Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

Theres no simple answer to this. There are so many types of therapy that its impossible to generalise.

Theres evidence of the beneficial effect of some complementary therapies . For other therapies, there is no research to prove it has any benefits for people with Parkinsons. But we hear from many people affected who feel it helps them.

It will also depend on what you expect from complementary therapies. For example, you may feel a particular therapy is not having a positive effect on your Parkinsons symptoms, but you may enjoy the experience. For you, this might be enough of a reason to continue.

Weve included comments from people affected by Parkinsons who have tried some of the therapies. We hope this will give you a better idea of what people are trying and how they found it. But remember that everyone will have a different experience.

Please remember these are peoples personal opinions Parkinsons UK doesnt endorse any particular therapy.

People may use complementary therapies alongside prescribed medication for many reasons, for example:

  • Conventional medicine might not always control someones symptoms.
  • Complementary therapy is a way of taking control of your own health.
  • Group therapy can be an opportunity to socialise. Equally, complementary therapies can be a time to enjoy your own company.
  • Complementary therapies can be relaxing.

What Type Of Exercise Should I Do If I Have Parkinson’s Disease

Exercise is a planned, structured, repetitive activity that is intended to improve physical fitness. There is no right exercise for people with Parkinsons. Everyones regimen will differ, depending on overall health, symptoms and previous level of activity. Any exercise helps, and a variety of exercise types may provide well-rounded benefits.

Aerobic exercise

Aerobic exercise involves activities that challenge your cardiorespiratory system such as walking, biking, running, and activities in the pool. Participating in aerobic exercise at least three days a week for 30-40 minutes may slow Parkinsons decline.

Strength training

Strength training involves using your body weight or other tools to build muscle mass and strength. Strength training two days per week, starting with low repetition and weight, may be beneficial in Parkinsons disease. A focus on extensor muscles, or muscles in the back of the body, can help with posture.

Flexibility training

Stretching two or more days per week can be beneficial to maintain range of motion and posture. Holding each stretch of major muscle groups for 30 to 60 seconds can improve muscle length.

Balance and agility training

This type of training often combines aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility training. Examples include:

  • Tai chi, yoga or Pilates.

Evidence For Neural Circuit Regulation By Acupuncture Based On Clinical Imaging Studies

These neuroimaging results illustrate that acupuncture enhances local brain activity and glucose metabolism and improves rCBF, which in turn reactivates both the dysfunctional motor and nonmotor neural circuits, ameliorating symptoms and improving overall quality of life. These neuroimaging quantifications rather than subjective findings helped to further objectively evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in PD.

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What Causes Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease occurs when nerve cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra become impaired or die. These cells normally produce dopamine, a chemical that helps the cells of the brain communicate . When these nerve cells become impaired or die, they produce less dopamine. Dopamine is especially important for the operation of another area of the brain called the basal ganglia. This area of the brain is responsible for organizing the brains commands for body movement. The loss of dopamine causes the movement symptoms seen in people with Parkinsons disease.

People with Parkinsons disease also lose another neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. This chemical is needed for proper functioning of the sympathetic nervous system. This system controls some of the bodys autonomic functions such as digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Loss of norepinephrine causes some of the non-movement-related symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Scientists arent sure what causes the neurons that produce these neurotransmitter chemicals to die.

Recommended Reading: Parkinsons Plus Life Expectancy

Michael J Fox Accepts Honorary Oscar For Parkinson’s Advocacy In Moving Speech

Scalp Acupuncture

The retired actor received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award on Saturday.

Michael J. Fox accepted an honorary Oscar in an emotional speech at the 13th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles.

The beloved “Back To The Future” star received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, which honors individuals “whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry,” for his work with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which funds research into Parkinson’s disease.

“The hardest part of my diagnosis was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation,” he said. “The diagnosis was definite and the progress was indefinite and uncertain. Tracy made it clear that she was with me for the duration,” he said, praising the unwavering support of his wife.

“It struck me that everything I had been given — success, my life with Tracy, my family — had prepared me for this profound opportunity and responsibility,” he said of grappling with his diagnosis and starting the Michael J. Fox Foundation to fund research. “I referred to Parkinson’s as the gift that keeps on taking … but it truly became a gift.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system and impairs movement, often including tremors, according to the Mayo Clinic. Currently, there is no known cause or cure for Parkinson’s disease.

Read Also: Neurologist For Parkinson’s Disease

What Evidence Should I Trust

Theres a lot of information on complementary therapies, particularly on the internet, that claims to be based on scientific evidence. But its not all reliable.

To help make sure youre reading accurate and useful information thats not misleading you may find it helps to ask yourself the following questions:

  • Where is the research published? Research should normally be peer-reviewed in professional journals. This means that before the details are released, it has been reviewed by other experts not involved in the study.
  • How many patients were involved in the study? The higher the number, the more reliable the study usually is.
  • Is the result of the study a one-off or have other scientists confirmed it?

Michael J Fox Says He Was In 7 Years Of Denial After Parkinson’s Diagnosis: I Only Knew That It Would Get Worse

Actor Michael J. Fox has become one of the most vocal advocates of Parkinson’s research and helped raised billions for the cause in the decades since his diagnosis. But before that, he was in “seven years of denial,” he said on Sunday.

The “Back to the Future” and “Family Ties” star discussed his struggle with accepting his Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis while accepting the Academy Awards’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award on Sunday. The award, an honorary Oscar statuette, is given to an “individual in the motion picture industry whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to the industry,” according to The Academy’s website.

During his acceptance speech, Fox said it was an “unexpected honor” as he talked about his journey from a high school dropout in Canada to an award-winning actor.

“I did leave high school in the 11th grade, sold my guitar and moved to L.A.,” he told the audience. “…I told my history teacher of my plan and he said, ‘Fox, you’re not gonna be cute forever.’ I had no idea how to respond to that, so I said, ‘Maybe just long enough, sir. Maybe just long enough.’ It turns out we were both right.”

It only took a few years for his career to “hit full stride.”

But then when he was just 29 years old, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause tremors, slow movement, balance problems and stiff limbs, as well as depression, hallucinations and cognitive impairments, among other things.

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Michael J Fox To Receive Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

Fox, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, became an advocate for finding a cure. He founded The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000 and the foundation has since become the largest non-profit funder of Parkinson’s disease research in the world and has funded more than $1.5 billion of research projects to date, according to the foundation’s website.

“It made me feel really proud of all the people who work at the foundation. All the patients who contributed their life stories,” Fox told “Good Morning America” on the red carpet of receiving the honor. “It’s really humbling, I mean it’s truly humbling.”

Fox, who retired from acting in 2020 due to the progression of his Parkinson’s disease, was supported by his wife Tracy Pollen, his four children, as well as his longtime-friend, and “Back To The Future” co-star, Christopher Lloyd on Saturday night while he received the Oscar.

“My optimism is fueled by my gratitude,” Fox said during his acceptance speech. “With gratitude, optimism is sustainable.”

What Are The Main Complementary Therapies Used By People With Parkinsons

Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture for Parkinson’s Disease

The rest of this information looks at some complementary therapies you may find helpful. Please remember that although weve included them here, we cant recommend any particular therapy.

Our forum is also a great place to find out what people are trying and how they feel about different therapies.

Acupuncture is a form of ancient Chinese medicine. It involves a therapist inserting thin needles at particular points on your body.

Traditional practitioners believe that energy flows round the body through channels which, when blocked, can cause illness. The role of acupuncture is to unblock the channels.

Some scientists believe the needles act to stimulate muscles and nerves, which is what causes the effects.

Acupuncture needles are very fine so shouldnt cause a lot of pain. Your therapist will stimulate them manually using heat, pressure, electrical currents or laser light.

Also Check: Watch For Parkinson’s Tremors

Mechanism Of Acupuncture Protecting From Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration

Extensive studies have shown that genetic predisposition , environmental factors , and a variety of intracellular and extracellular pathogenic factors contribute to the development of PD, which is characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SN, depletion of dopamine in the ST, and the formation of Lewy bodies that are mainly composed of -syn . The reduction of striatal DA levels disrupts the neurotransmitter balance in the basal ganglia and thalamus, resulting in motor symptoms such as paralysis agitans, bradykinesia, and rigidity . Loss of DA and changes in neurotransmitters such as serotonin , norepinephrine , -aminobutyric acid , and glutamate in different brain regions and the peripheral nervous system lead to the occurrence of nonmotor symptoms, such as autonomic nervous dysfunction, neuropsychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, and gastrointestinal symptoms .

How Might Massage Therapy Help

Research suggests that massage may help to reduce pain and anxiety and depression, although theres no conclusive evidence. Abdominal massage may also help with constipation.

Many people with Parkinsons and their carers have told us they find massage therapy useful as a way to relax and to have time to themselves.

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Study Finds Acupuncture May Be Effective For Anxiety In Patients With Parkinsons Disease

A study in China found that Parkinsons patients treated with acupuncture saw reduced anxiety levels.

Research suggests that acupuncture may be a useful treatment for those with Parkinsons disease struggling with anxiety.

In patients with PD, anxiety is associated with consistent worry, tension in muscles, a lack of concentration, and increases in tremors. Just over 30% of Parkinsons patients report symptoms of anxiety, leading to patients having a generally diminished wellbeing.

Symptoms of anxiety are significantly associated with accelerated progression of Parkinsons in PD patients. The studys investigators, led by Li-xing Zhuang, PhD, and Jing-qi Fan, PhD, of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, investigated the topic due in part to the dearth of information on acupunctures efficacy for PD.

Acupuncture aimed at alleviating anxiety has clinical effects with good compliance. Nevertheless, we could not find data to confirm acupunctures utility for anxiety in PD., Zhuang and colleagues wrote. Thus, we conducted this double-blinded, clinical trial to investigate the effect of acupuncture for anxiety in PD.

How Might Music Therapy Help

scalp acupuncture points for aphasia

Its been suggested that music can improve movement and speech and help people to relax or talk about their feelings or ideas.

Some people with Parkinsons find that listening to strong rhythmic music can improve their walking, prevent hesitations and overcome freezing episodes.

In general, research indicates that music seems to help people with conditions such as Parkinsons improve their emotional sense of wellbeing.

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Qi Gong For Motor Symptoms Of Parkinson Disease

Six randomized, controlled trials have evaluated the effects of Qi Gong interventions on PD motor symptoms. Three studies compared Qi Gong to non-exercise controls and showed significant improvement in various motor outcomes: the proportion of patients with improved mUPDRS scores , baseline to 8-week changes in mUPDRS and total UPDRS , a decrease in muscle hardness using myometry , and improvement in the TUG test . In a 7-week cross-over study comparing Qi Gong followed by aerobic exercise to aerobic exercise followed by Qi Gong, neither group had an improvement in motor function on the mUPDRS, though there was improvement on the 6-min walking test after aerobic exercise . When compared to daily walking, Xiao and Zhuang found significant improvements in the mUPDRS, motor symptoms at night , 6MWT, TUG test, gait speed, and BBS in 45 patients with PD who completed 6 months of Qi Gong. The same group compared Baduanjin Qi Gong to conventional physical therapy, and while the intervention group had significant improvement in the BBS, ABC, TUG test, and 6MWT relative to baseline, these results were not significant when compared to controls .

Data Preprocessing And Calculations

The fMRI data analyser was also blinded to the group assignment. The resting-state fMRI data preprocessing was performed using DPABI based on MATLAB . After removing the first four volumes of each participant, the functional images were corrected for the intra-volume acquisition time delay using slice-timing and realignment. None of the participants were excluded based on the criteria of displacement > 2 mm or angular rotation > 2° in any direction. All corrected functional data were then normalized to the Montreal Neurological Institute space and resampled to a 3-mm isotropic resolution. The resulting images were further temporally band-pass filtered to remove the effects of low-frequency drift and high-frequency physiological noise. Finally, 24 head-motion parameters, white matter signals, and cerebrospinal fluid signals were regressed using a general linear model, and linear trends were removed from the fMRI data. Spatial smoothing was also performed before the ALFF analysis using a Gaussian filter , but after the ReHo calculation.

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Are There Any Risks Of Exercising With Parkinsons Disease

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 Is Parkinsons Diagnosed

Best Acupuncture Points for Parkinson’s Disease

Doctors use your medical history and physical examination to diagnose Parkinsons disease . No blood test, brain scan or other test can be used to make a definitive diagnosis of PD.

Researchers believe that in most people, Parkinsons is caused by a combination ofenvironmental and geneticfactors. Certain environmental exposures, such as pesticides and head injury, are associated with an increased risk of PD. Still, most people have no clear exposure that doctors can point to as a straightforward cause. The same goes for genetics. Certain genetic mutations are linked to an increased risk of PD. But in the vast majority of people, Parkinsons is not directly related to a single genetic mutation. Learning more about the genetics of Parkinsons is one of our best chances to understand more about the disease and discover how to slow or stop its progression.

Aging is the greatest risk factor for Parkinsons, and the average age at diagnosis is 60. Still, some people get PD at 40 or younger.

Men are diagnosed with Parkinsons at a higher rate than women and whites more than other races. Researchers are studying these disparities to understand more about the disease and health care access and to improve inclusivity across care and research.

Aging is the greatest risk factor for Parkinsons, and the average age at diagnosis is 60. Still, some people get PD at 40 or younger.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation has made finding a test for Parkinsons disease one of our top priorities.

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Experimental Animal Model Studies Investigating The Regulation Of The Basal Ganglia Circuit In Parkinson’s Disease By Acupuncture

The basal ganglia circuit consists of the ST , the globus pallidus , the subthalamic nucleus, and the SN, which are responsible for motor control, motor learning, emotions, and executive functions . Several neurotransmitters are involved in regulating the function of the basal ganglia circuit. Once DA levels are reduced, the imbalance of DA and acetylcholine and disorders of the neurotransmitter system contribute to the development of dyskinesia in PD . GABA is the most predominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the ST and its downstream nucleus projections are regulated by DA either via dopamine D1 receptor or dopamine D2 receptor . SPECT imaging in PD models revealed that retained acupuncture may attenuate MPTP-induced neuronal injury . Besides, fMRI studies have demonstrated that acupuncture activates the caudate nucleus, putamen, M1, cingulate gyrus, and globus pallidus externa , and modulates the ipsilateral parietal lobe, contralateral temporal lobe, basal ganglia, pons, and cerebellum , which are closely linked to the basal ganglia circuit.

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