What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that impairs movement. The condition usually affects older adults, but can also occur in people in their 30s or 40s.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Primary symptoms include slow movement, stiffness and a tremor of the hand. If you have Parkinson’s disease, you may experience movement that:

• Feels out of your control
• Becomes increasingly difficult

Symptoms begin gradually and may start with a barely noticeable tremor in only one hand. Tremors are very common, but the disorder can also cause slower movement and stiffness. 

The following symptoms may be early indicators of Parkinson’s Disease:

• Shuffling when walking 
• Falling 
• Losing balance 
• Difficulty getting out of a chair
• Feeling fatigued/ tired all the time 
• Difficulty writing 
• Slow thinking
• Soft/slow speech
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty feeding yourself
• Drooling 

Rehabilitation for Parkinson’s Disease

Although Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, rehabilitation can assist in slowing down it’s progression and managing symptoms, to optimise quality of life. The key to successfully managing symptoms is to seek rehabilitation as early as possible.

Through the specialised and coordinated intervention of physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy, we can assist in helping you remain independent for as long as possible. With our well-qualified and experienced team and state-of-the-art facilities, we ensure our patients receive individualised treatment plans.

A variety of services for the treatment and rehabilitation of symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are available. Clinical guidelines suggest a multi-disciplinary approach is critical in the management of Parkinson’s Disease, which is why our centres employ a multi-disciplinary team of practitioners.