Parkinson

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease of the brain. It usually occurs in older people and severely limits mobility.

To date, the causes of Parkinson's disease are not fully understood. Parkinson's disease usually progresses slowly, so that those affected can lead a largely independent life for a long time after diagnosis.

Symptoms

Causes

Treatment

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Symptoms

The following symptoms are typical of Parkinson's disease:

Muscle stiffness
Problems with walking and posture
Resting tremor
Sudden loss of balance
Sleep problems
Memory disorders
Speech disorders
Emotional vulnerability

Causes

Gradually, certain functions of the central nervous system become impaired due to a lack of dopamine production. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that enables the conduction of "messages" between neurons. This deficiency leads to various motor function disorders. However, very quickly over the course of the disease, neurons in other brain regions, which are independent of dopamine production, are also affected. Parkinson's can also be caused by other neurological diseases, such as dementia.

Treatment

There is currently no cure, but there are effective options that can relieve symptoms. These include medications, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, neuropsychology and speech therapy.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy aims to maintain joint and muscle function. This can improve coordination and restore balance. With the help of strategies to improve movement control, gait/locomotion is positively influenced.

Rehabilitation in occupational therapy

In occupational therapy, treatments are carried out to restore the patient's independence as much as possible. This includes techniques for personal hygiene and dressing.

The therapy also focuses on the following points:

Independent movement even when resting (for example, turning in bed).
Working out ways to compensate in order to reduce the tremor
Maintaining handwriting
Training an upright posture
Minimising the risk of falling

Rehabilitation through adapted physical activity

In order to maintain general mobility, the patient is given a variety of exercises or suitable sporting activities:

Loosening exercises for general mobility
Improving balance through climbing, ball games or dancing
Improving coordination with the help of Nordic walking or pilates

Rehabilitation in neuropsychology

Neuropsychology is used to train existing skills in order to rehabilitate and/or compensate for impaired cognitive abilities.

Neuropsychological care focuses on the following points:

Strengthening memory performance
Improving executive functions (e.g., dealing with multitasking, planning everyday tasks)
Reducing attention deficits (e.g., speed of information processing)

Different approaches are used to achieve this:

Games that target cognitive functions
Special computer software (RehaCom, iGerip, Cogniplus®)
Paper-and-pencil exercises

Rehabilitation in speech therapy

Speech therapy sessions focus on improving speech, voice and swallowing disorders.

The following therapies are used during the sessions:

LSVT® method (Lee Silvermann Voice Treatment) - to improve voice and articulation
Therapeutic meals (adjusting the texture of meals, learning techniques that protect the airway)
Oral, speech and facial motor exercises

Alternative means of communication can also be introduced to help patients better communicate and interact with the environment.