16
columnist
The HEALTH | AUGUST, 2018
P OIN TS FOR C A R ETA K ERS
The
exercise
approach
THERAPISTS have used a
variety of exercise approach
or intervention to help mitigate
the symptoms of parkinson’s
disease (PD) even for older
age. One of the skilled and
specialised programme for PD
is Parkinson Recovery Wellness
(PWR)@Moves.
PWR@Moves is a
PD specific skill training
programme to maintain or
restore skills that deteriorate
and interfere with everyday
movements. PWR@Moves
offer a flexible and functional
amplitude- focused exercise
approach that targets multiple
symptoms and that allows for
adaptation for disease severity.
Benefits of exercise
Parkinson disease and exercise
P
arkinson disease (PD) patient has
physical impairments that causes
progressive loss of muscle control,
resting tremor, rigidity, slow movement
and impaired balance. Medication taken
for the disease will manage the symptoms but
not the body changes arising from the disease
progression.
Consequently, limitations in
activities (disabilities) and partici-
pation restrictions arise as a result
of impairments in body functions
and body structures.
Prognostic factor for PD can be
influenced by physical inactivity
and frequent fall.
Hence rehabilitation is the
corner stone for PD to improve
the quality of life by maintaining
or increasing the patient’s inde-
pendence, safety and well-being.
The aim of rehabilitation
includes prevention of inactivity
and fall, improving functional
activity and limiting activity
restriction. Rehabilitation is done
based on the phase of disease
progression early, mid and late.
Rehabilitation is a process of
helping a person following illness
or injury to restore physical,
cognitive and functional capacity.
Exercise is part of rehabilitation.
Research has shown sufficient
BY CHELVI
MUNIANDY
evidence through the ben-
efits of exercise in PD patient.
Study by Margaret Schenk-
men (2018) showed that
patients can safely engage in
high intensity exercises and
showed improvement in daily
activities.
In Malaysia, there is lack of
awareness for importance of
rehabilitation and exercise for
this patients. Exercise should
be a lifelong commitment to
avoid physical and cognitive
decline. Despite the progres-
sive nature of the disease,
people living with PD can
expect to improve their physi-
cal condition by being more
active physically.
Chelvi Muniandy is ReGen
Rehabilitation International’s
Therapy director. She can be
contacted at www.regenhealth.
com
1. Symptoms management
Exercise reduce the symptoms
of PD such as stiffness and
improves mobility, posture,
balance and gait.
The exercises improve blood
circulation to the lungs, heart
and nervous system which will
also reduce depression, stress
and anxiety.
2. Slow disease progression
Improved mobility, reduce
the risk of fall and other
complications associated with
PD. Effective exercises can
ward off changes in the brain
caused by aging and research
on Parkinson have found
that exercise will prompt the
brain to use dopamine more
efficiently.
So, for PD patients,
programme involving multi-
disciplinary team approach
with rehabilitation physician,
physiotherapy, occupational
therapy, speech therapy and
psychologist are essential to
improve the quality of life and
speech.