Parkinson's affects movement in specific ways, and physiotherapy for it is correspondingly specific. Steps that get smaller and quicker. Freezing in doorways or when turning. A stoop that creeps in. Balance that is less reliable than it was, and the loss of confidence that follows a fall or a near miss.
None of that has to be simply accepted as it arrives. NICE guidance recommends considering referral to physiotherapy for people with Parkinson's who have problems with balance or motor function, and the evidence for exercise in Parkinson's is among the strongest in neurological rehabilitation.
More information
What treatment involves
Assessment first, of how you walk, turn, transfer and balance, and of what has become harder recently. Then a programme, which usually combines strength and balance work with specific techniques for the movement problems Parkinson's produces. Cueing is a large part of it, meaning the use of rhythm, counting, visual targets or deliberate large movements to get around a system that has stopped producing automatic movement reliably.
Why exercise matters here more than usual
In a progressive condition it is tempting to think of exercise as holding the line rather than achieving anything. The evidence says otherwise. Regular, appropriately demanding exercise improves walking, balance and quality of life for people with Parkinson's, and the effects fade when it stops, which is why the programme is built to be something you can keep doing rather than a course of treatment that ends.
Working alongside your consultant
We are happy to write to your neurologist, Parkinson's nurse specialist or GP, and to work around medication timing, since what you can do at your best point in the day and your worst can be very different. Tell us when your medication is due and we will plan appointments around it.
