Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that affects 1 in 500 people most commonly aged 50 years or older. parkinson’s is a progressive disease which affects your movement due to a lack of the chemical dopamine being produced. A lack of dopamine occurs as cells within the brain die which results in movements being slower and more difficult.
There are many different symptoms of parkinson’s disease, however the most common symptoms include;
- Tremors
- Slow/difficult movements
- Stiffness
Those suffering from parkinson’s disease can also experience an array of negative effects. The most common effects of parkinson’s disease include;
- Dizziness
- Pain
- Restless leg syndrome
- Speech problems
- Fatigue
- Anxiety and depression
- Dementia
- Sleep problems
How can massage help parkinson’s?
Our therapists at Massage.physio.co.ukcan help treat those suffering with parkinson’s disease in many ways. The most common ways a massage can help include;
- Reduced pain
- Reduced restless leg syndrome
- Increased relaxation
The most common ways a massage can help treat a person suffering with parkinson’s disease include reduced pain, reduced restless leg syndrome and increase relaxation
Reduced pain
Pain can occur for many reasons including stiffness, damage to nerves and muscle tightness. Pain can cause a further restriction in movement resulting in an increase in stress. A massage helps to relieve pain by reducing stiffness and tightness and increasing healing. During a massage, the circulation of blood is increased causing a rise in soft tissue temperature. A rise in soft tissue temperature causes muscles to relax and joints to loosen resulting in a decrease in stiffness and tightness. An increase in blood circulation also provides cells with healthy oxygen and nutrients that are essential for the repair of damaged cells. Encouraging relaxation of soft tissues and joints and increasing the repair of damaged cells reduces pain.
Increased relaxation
Relaxation can be affected both physically and mentally. Physical relaxation reduces due to muscle and joint stiffness where mental relaxation reduces due to symptoms such as anxiety, stress and depression. A massage helps to increase physical relaxation by encouraging muscle relaxation and increasing temperature around joints to release stiffness and increase movement. A massage helps to increase mental relaxation by promoting the release of positive hormones endorphins and serotonin. Positive hormones are responsible for giving us feelings of happiness, motivation, enthusiasm and relaxation. Promoting the release of positive hormones improves a person’s overall mood and decreases symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. A study by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami et al, shows that the group of people suffering with parkinson’s shown a decrease in negative hormones and an increase in positive hormones after receiving massage therapy, further proving the positive effects massage can have.
Summary
As a whole, the benefits of massage for parkinson’s disease can have a massive positive effect. The overall benefits of massage for parkinson’s disease include;
- Reduced fatigue
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Reduced stiffness
- Improved sleeping pattern
How can I arrange a massage for parkinson’s disease?
To arrange a massage for parkinson’s disease at (re brand), email us at office@physio.co.uk or call us on 0161 883 0077.
You can also book an appointment onlineand save £10.
References
The Touch Research Institute and the department of neurology at the University of Miami School of Medicine; Duke University Department of Pharmacology. Authors: Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D., Tiffany Field, Ph.D., Shay Largie, Christy Cullen, Julia Beutler, Chris Sanders, William Weiner, Dinorah Rodriguez-Bateman, Lisette Zelaya, Saul Schanberg and Cynthia Kuhn. Originally published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, July 2002, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 177-182.
