Parkinson's Disease (PD)

PD is a disease of an area in the brain that is in control of starting movement and allowing the movement to run smoothly. When this area is damaged the four following signs and symptoms occur:

• tremor -shaking movements when trying to rest
• rigidity -tight muscles which make it hard to move
• bradykinesia -difficult to do any movements quickly
• postural instability -an increased risk of falling

These problems are called primary problems and they can lead to many other health problems called secondary problems. Some secondary problems are difficulty walking, speech and swallowing difficulties, bowel and bladder problems, difficulties breathing, and pain. There is no cure for PD and its primary problems as of yet, however some medications can help. There are also many things that a physical therapist can teach someone with PD, so that they can control the primary problems and decrease the risk of developing secondary problems.

Here are some good web pages with helpful information about PD:

• http://www.parkinson.ca/ -links to PD foundations and other information
  
• http://www.integmed.com/imsite/conditions/parkinsons.html -general information about PD

Other Neurological Conditions
Other Medical Conditions