Internationale Zeitschrift für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation
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Rehabilitation Procedures Aimed at Decreasing Motor Symptoms in Parkinson?s Disease

Cholewa Joanna

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common degenerative disease of the nervous system, whose incidence increases with age. Despite increasing progress in the treatment of PD, resulting from development of diagnostic methods and experimental research into the understanding of the essence of this disease, an increase in the severity of disability is still observed with the passing time. Physiotherapy is one of the non-pharmacological methods, which through its complexity, phases and regularity is aimed at preventing early physical disability as well as permanent disability. Maintaining independence as long as possible, functional self-reliance and social usefulness are the main targets. Facing a real risk of PD incidence, the aim of the work was to present rehabilitation strategy in reducing the severity of motor symptoms like; tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and impaired postural reflexes. Therapeutic activities are aimed at working out a strategy to cope with trembling while in rigidity, emphasis is not laid on eliminating rigidity but on reducing the negative impact of increased muscle tension and slowing down of mobility. The goal of rehabilitation is to assure optimal use of stored patterns for automatic movements and acquired ones, using control signals in disorders of postural reflexes on the implementation of rehabilitation when there are still no severe difficulties in performing daily activities. The conclusion that may be drawn is that physical therapy tailored to the severity of individual symptoms of motion, allows for improving the functionality and quality of life of people with PD.