The Physiology Of Parkinsons
Experts believe that in Parkinsons disease, neurons in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates motor neurons, the nerve cells that control muscles. When dopamine production is depleted, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination. People with Parkinsons disease have lost 80 percent or more of their dopamine-producing cells by the time symptoms appear. While symptoms may appear at any age, the average age of onset is 60 years old.
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How Can Massage Help To Manage Parkinsons
Massage therapy has been found to help improve the wellbeing of the person suffering from Parkinsons, as well as reduce their joint and muscle pain. This is because massage can relieve muscle tension and pain, stimulate circulation, and relieve stress and depression.
Other massage benefits for a sufferer of Parkinsons can include:
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved energy levels and vitality
- Improved self-confidence and self-esteem
- Improved self awareness.
A case study of a patient suffering from Parkinsons disease found that massage therapy had a positive effect on reducing resting and postural tremor, as well as temporarily reducing muscle stiffness.
As Parkinsons typically causes muscle stiffness, alleviating tense muscles and joints has a soothing effect that instantly improves symptoms in a client. Not only that, but massage is proven to release happy hormones including endorphins, which helps to improve the clients overall mood and outlook.
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The Symptoms And Signs Of Parkinsons Disease
The signs and symptoms of Parkinsons may not notice suddenly. One might feel tired or slight trembling of hands the speech might become slurred or lack of facial expression. But the symptoms tend to increase over time as the progression continues.
Some of the typical symptoms are:
- Slowed or impaired movements
- Speech problems like monotone, slow or hesitation before speaking
- Handwriting might become smaller, or writing is difficult
- Unconscious movements like blinking, smiling and swinging of arms while walking is harder
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Massage Therapy Treatment And Outcomes For A Patient With Parkinsons Disease: A Case Report
Posted:Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Listen in as we discuss, Massage Therapy Treatment and Outcomes for a Patient with Parkinsons Disease: a Case Report. This article is published in the Foundations open-access, peer-reviewed journal, the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork . You can view the full article here.
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Study Questions:
- Why do you think tremor responded more positively than rigidity?
- Many Parkinsons disease patients seek massage. Might anything in this case report influence the way you work with these clients?
- The author poses a lot of questions for more research. What are yours?
- How might this report influence your choices the next time you see a client with Parkinsons disease?
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Pemf Therapy Research For Parkinsons Disease
Several studies on PEMF therapy exhibit improved gross and fine-motor function and cognitive abilities. Pulsed magnetic fields have a molecular action and significantly alter the reactivity of molecules . With fewer free radicals there is less inflammation and aging related degeneration slows down. PEMF therapy has also been proven to alleviate depression and improve mental health2 .
PEMFs have a great healing potential for Parkinsons disease and a help for physical therapy and neurorehabilitation.
In 1996, Dr. Reuven Sandyk from Department of Neuroscience at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Services of Touro College, NY, treated a 73 y/o patient with a 10 year history of Parkinsons disease using PEMFs4. Within a week of PEMF therapy, there was almost complete disappearance of PD tremors, start hesitation and freezing of gait. He was also able to draw better and got back his signature.
In 1999, his research uncovered that AC PEMF therapy improves smell 5 in Parkinsons disease. He also noticed that 7 Hz stimulation was helpful in resolving olfactory dysfunction, which is often ignored in treatment of Parkinsons disease. Smell and yawning are often indicators of disease status and improvements in these functions means that treatment is working.
Another large review of 470 PD patients from 2015 concluded that rTMS improves motor symptoms and tremor control for patients with PD.
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How Does Massage Therapy Help With Parkinsons Disease
No matter the cause, Massage Therapy can help with musculoskeletal pain and joint stiffness. Parkinsons occurs most frequently in those over the age of 50, who may already be feeling the effects of aging. Massage can help with muscle spasms and rigidity.
Daily exercise is recommended for people with Parkinsons Disease. Massage can help keep the body flexible and able to handle more activity.
As mentioned early, Parkinsons can affect quality sleep. Massage therapy promotes healthy and deep sleep by relaxing the body and giving the mind a chance to rest as well. Massage can reduce the occurrence of restlessness and thrashing during sleep.
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Coping With Parkinsons Disease
Regular treatments using the Cyclo-ssage Massage Therapy System will relax stiff and rigid muscles often resulting in improved balance and co-ordination. Helping to maintaining muscle strength often enhances core stability and flexibility without the concerns of dizziness or intolerable tingling which often occur using conventional treatments. Mood elevation is usually experienced after a relaxing massage therapy treatment and regular massage therapy sessions will reduce anxiety and improve energy levels and sleep patterns.
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The Benefits Of Massage Therapy For Parkinsons
For those with Parkinsons disease, the brain slowly degenerates because the neurotransmitter dopamine stops being produced. As dopamine production slows, the patient has a significant reduction in control over his or her movements. As rigidity sets in, so does pain. According to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation , more than half of all patients with Parkinsons disease have associated pain, with some pain expression overshadowing the symptoms of the disease itself. Many people with Parkinsons disease seek complementary and alternative care in addition to conventional medicine. Massage therapy is commonly sought, with some neurologists advocating this form of care for alleviation of muscle rigidity, joint contractures, and associated pain. Yet, there are no randomized clinical trials to support the use of massage therapy for treatment of symptoms associated with Parkinsons disease. Over the past few years, however, several smaller studies have been published demonstrating the positive effects of massage for clients with this disease.
Jerrilyn Cambron, DC, PhD, MPH, LMT, is an educator at the National University of Health Sciences and president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. Contact her at [email protected].
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Updates From Our Team Of Experts
What is Parkinsons Disease?
Parkinsons disease is caused by death of nerve cells in mid section of the brain particularly the cells that are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine. This reduction causes, Parkinsons, a progressive neurological condition where part of the brain become progressively more damaged over many years.
Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body and the reduction of this chemical is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. The average age for the symptoms to start is around 60 although around 1 in 20 cases first develop in people aged fewer than 50. Men are one-and-half times more likely to get Parkinsons disease than women.
Symptoms of Parkinsons
The brain cells and nerves affected in PD normally help to produce smooth, co-ordinated movements of muscles. Therefore, following common Parkinsons symptoms that gradually develop are:
a)Tremor: One of the first symptoms observed in one or both hands, often spreading to the feet. Observed shaking and involuntary movements.
b) Stiffness: Stiffness of muscles and muscles may feel tenser. Also, your arms do not tend to swing as much when you walk. Sometime this disease creates lower work capacity in our movement or necessities. The degenerate of bone, limitation articulate and atrophies in our body.
c)Hyperkinesias. Poor mobility in articulation and slow projection in the movement, frustration.
Massage & Parkinson
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How Does Massage For Parkinsons Work
The incidence of Parkinsons disease in the United States is estimated at 1 million, with an additional 50,000 patients being diagnosed every year. While it is generally considered a disease of those between 50 and 79 years of age, incidence below the age of 40 is rapidly increasing and epidemiologists suspect environmental influences are playing a part in this phenomenon.
If muscle balance is not in control, flexors can take over, which is a similar result as the muscle freezing after a stroke occurs. Ranges of motion exercises are very important with the process of relating the muscles that control the joints.
If resistance is encountered, then force should not be used, gentle coercion is instead the process to be followed. Patients who have had joint replacement should not be subjected to a range of motion exercises. The massage therapist works with the patient to massage and loosen where possible and regain some flexibility by working the muscles.
The origins of the scaleni are located deep in a network of blood vessels, connective tissues and nerves. Loosening up neck muscles should occur as a unit when massage is undertaken. Most of the symptoms of Parkinsons involve musculature. It is important to be sensitive to the needs of the patient and work slowly.
Massage Therapy For Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons can be a severely debilitating disease. Parkinsons disease affects a persons voluntary motor skills and creates stiff and rigid muscles. The most unfortunate part of Parkinsons disease is that there is no cure. Patients experiencing Parkinsons disease usually go through tons of medication switching and various ineffective treatments to try and muster up some form of pain relief. Massage therapy can be an effective form of alleviating pain for those with Parkinsons disease, and it can help decrease muscle stiffness and rigidity.
Those seeking massage therapy to relieve their Parkinsons disease pain must remember that massage is not a cure-all for the disease. Massage therapy is only bodywork and cannot completely cure your Parkinsons disease, although it can help with a slew of the symptoms you will experience via Parkinsons disease.
Receiving massage therapy treatments for Parkinsons could result in having a lesser need for pain medications and antidepressants. Make sure to notify your primary physician before going to a certified massage therapist for treatment, this way your physician and massage therapist can work together to figure out what is best for your specific constitution.
When massage therapists treat complications of Parkinsons disease they utilize massage techniques that involve gentle pressure and much repetition. By doing this, massage therapists can relax the muscle tremors those with Parkinsons experience.
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Contact Us Now For A Massage In London
Contact us on for a massage tailored to your individual needs and requirements. Our expert team of staff will conduct a detailed assessment before the treatment, to help decide what benefits you would like to reap from the massage.
We look forward to hearing from you through the phone or through our online form.
Massage Therapy And Parkinsons Diseasea Review Of The Literature
Today, the majority of PD cases are effectively treated with a combination of medications, including the drug levodopa however, the degenerative effects of PD will still eventually lead to the progressive deterioration of neuromuscular control affecting bodily functions and activities of daily living. A study reviewing the research base states that, while many PD patients receive regular massage to alleviate PD symptoms, the lack of high-quality studies leaves the efficacy of the intervention for improvement of any measure other than relaxation, sleep, or emotional health unknown.
A number of recent global studies have been conducted in an attempt to determine complementary and alternative medicine usage by PD patients, with a worldwide usage rate varying between 26% to 76%, and usage of massage therapy in particular varying between 7% and 40%. The patients generally tending to turn towards CAM treatments in addition to the medical and pharmaceutical care they are receiving are those who have had a younger onset or longer duration of disease, those on higher doses of levodopa, and those with more severe motor symptoms.
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The Benefits Of Massage Therapy For Parkinson’s
For those with Parkinsons disease, the brain slowly degenerates because the neurotransmitter dopamine stops being produced. As dopamine production slows, the patient has a significant reduction in control over his or her movements. As rigidity sets in, so does pain. According to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation , more than half of all patients with Parkinsons disease have associated pain, with some pain expression overshadowing the symptoms of the disease itself. Many people with Parkinsons disease seek complementary and alternative care in addition to conventional medicine. Massage therapy is commonly sought, with some neurologists advocating this form of care for alleviation of muscle rigidity, joint contractures, and associated pain. Yet, there are no randomized clinical trials to support the use of massage therapy for treatment of symptoms associated with Parkinsons disease. Over the past few years, however, several smaller studies have been published demonstrating the positive effects of massage for clients with this disease.
Jerrilyn Cambron, DC, PhD, MPH, LMT, is an educator at the National University of Health Sciences and president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. Contact her at [email protected].
Parkinsons Disease Treatment Plan And Goals
When a patient is being treated with massage therapy for Parkinsons Disease there is a variety of things that should be considered including:
The position of the patient needs to be adjusted to accord with the degree of rigidity of the patient. If the patient is extremely rigid then there will be fewer changes in position. Massage treatment should be performed using a lot of content for a relaxation style massage.
This will help the patient to relax and may increase their range of motion as well. If it is noted that a patient has edema, then MLD or Manual Lymphatic Drainage should be performed.
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Is Theracycle Safe To Use
The Theracycle is designed specifically for users with movement disorders and has many safety features. Its motion can be stopped instantly using either a push of a button or a pull of the safety cord. The structural steel frame can support up to 350lbs and cast iron parts are extremely durable and built to last. The seat is extra large for added comfort, safety and stability.
Find A Qualified Massage Therapist
If you have Parkinsons, its important to seek a qualified massage therapist to help give you the best treatment. You should look into working with qualified massage therapists who have completed a qualification in deep tissue massage and can be trusted to treat a range of injuries and complaints including muscle stiffness and pain.
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What Does The Research Say
In a 2002 study conducted by a research institute at the University of Miami and a team from its neurology department, symptoms of Parkinsons disease were reduced by massage therapy. The subject cases underwent bi-weekly massages, over a period of five weeks.
They reported a boost in their day-to-day functioning, enhanced quality of sleep, and a reduction in their stress level hormones. The massage received in this study included focusing on the buttocks, back, thighs, ribs, feet and calves, forearms, hands, upper arms, face, neck, and head.
Leaders of this study recorded that there was a definite enhancement in the subjects abilities to sleep, function, and in their overall mood.
The Function Of Daily Living: Updrs
UPDRS-II was the secondary measure of our study. It comprises 13 items, and although it mainly reflects daily life behavior, most of these behaviors were closely related to motor function. For example, the item chewing and swallowing needed the complex coordination of facial and pharyngeal muscles. The item handwriting was related to the motor function of the upper limbs and eyes. Therefore, UPDRS-II could be indirect evidence for assessing motor function. Five studies, including 253 patients, used UPDRS-II as the assessment . The heterogeneity between studies was little we used the fixed model. After analyzing post-intervention data, there were no significant differences in daily living improvement between the therapeutic massage and control groups . Sensitivity analyses implied no significant change when any study was removed.
Figure 7. Comparison 4: therapeutic massage vs. control. Outcome 4: UPDRS-II.
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