Parkinsons

[FrenchPea]

Good morning!I've been trying to post this inquiry for days now --- finally logged in with IE instead of AOL..... frustrating.Anyhow -----I have a client with Parkinsons (still walking although stiffly, still taking water exercise classes, although very little actual movement)  He describes his back as feeling like the spine is thicker and more stiff...... to my touch, it feels like the tissue is heavily armored to both sides of the spine out several inches in the thoracic region especially.  Is this a normal progression of the disease?  Any tips for helping this client?Thanks,Linda B. in NC

 

[Rawrs[: Munchkin]

Something that helped a client with Parkinson's who came into the clinic weekly was moist heat (hydrauculator packs). His Parkinsons was at a seforum.xxxe that his legs would, without notice, draw up into fetal position and it was something to get them to let go. His back would also contort and these things became the priority because they are so painful. We figured out the heat helped immensely. It cut his discomfort, frustration and the time consumed to get through one of these episodes in about half.

Hope this will help your client as well. If you don't have a hydrauculator available, the average size packs will fit in a roaster filled with water similar to what is often used for hot stones.

Maire

 

[huang]

For what they are worth, here are a few resources:

Parkinsonism, Ruth Werner, Massage Today, March 2005.

Massage Reduces Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, Massage Magazine, 101, January/February 2003. ***Link no longer working***

Touch Therapy Improves Movement, Range of Motion for Clients with Parkinson's Disease, Massage Magazine, September/October 2005, p.104-108. ***Link no longer working***

Trager For Parkinson's Disease and Rigidity, Massage Magazine, 107, January/February 2004.

The effect of Trager therapy on the level of evoked stretch responses in patients with Parkinson's disease and rigidity, Duval C, Lafontaine D, Hebert J, Leroux A, Panisset M, Boucher JP., Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 25, Issue 7, p.455-464.

***edited by Pandoras Gift forum moderator for content only. Kept info for future reference***


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