By Karl Burris, PT, DPT, PWR!Moves certified therapist
A Parkinson’s diagnosis comes with a lot of information and very few instructions. You leave the neurologist’s office with a prescription, a follow-up date and a head full of questions.
One of the most useful next steps is also one people often put off: seeing a physical therapist who works with Parkinson’s.
Why not wait until things get harder?
Many people assume physical therapy is for later, once walking or balance becomes a real problem. The research points the other way. Exercise is one of the most effective tools for managing Parkinson’s symptoms, and it works best as a habit you build early.
Starting now gives you three things.
- A baseline. We measure your walking speed, balance, strength and flexibility while they are still good. Later, we can tell what has changed and what has not.
- A program that fits you. General advice to stay active is hard to act on. A specific plan with the right kind of effort is something you can follow.
- Early fixes. Small changes show up first: a shorter step, a quieter arm swing, a stiffer trunk. These are far easier to train when they are small.
The goal is to ingrain the best movement patterns and skills you can right now. What you build early gives you a buffer as Parkinson’s progresses.
Two skills are worth starting on straight away. One is getting down to the floor and back up, which is far easier to keep than to relearn. The other is walking.
What kind of exercise helps?
The Parkinson’s Foundation recommends about 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each week, mixing four types: aerobic activity, strength training, balance and agility work, and stretching.
Intensity matters. A comfortable stroll is good for you, but training that makes you work is what has the strongest evidence behind it. Part of our job is to find the level that is hard enough to count and safe for you. Check with your neurologist before starting anything new.
What happens at a first visit
Your first appointment at Live Life Physiotherapy is one-on-one and in person at our Santee clinic.
- We talk about your diagnosis, your daily routine and what you want to keep doing.
- We test walking, balance, strength and transitions such as standing up and getting off the floor.
- We build a plan: what to practice, how often and how hard.
Dr. Burris is PWR!Moves certified, an exercise approach designed for Parkinson’s. How often you come in depends on what the evaluation shows and what you want to work on. You can read more about our Parkinson’s physical therapy in Santee.
What about cost?
We accept Medicare and most PPO plans. Our insurance page has the details, and we are happy to check your coverage before your first visit.
Take the first step
If you or someone in your family was recently diagnosed, an early evaluation is a concrete thing you can do this month. We see patients from Santee, El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa, San Carlos, and all over San Diego County.
Call (619) 800-8173 or request a call back on our contact page.
