{"id":123,"date":"2018-03-21T09:28:19","date_gmt":"2018-03-21T09:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/wp_temp_dir\/?p=123"},"modified":"2021-06-09T12:22:22","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T12:22:22","slug":"massage-and-parkinsons-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/massage-and-parkinsons-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits of Massage Therapy on Parkinson&#8217;s Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mpu_ad_1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/images\/mpu_article_credits_banner.gif\" alt=\"\" \/>Want to earn <strong>continuing education credit<\/strong> for this article? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/programs\/nervous-system-disorders-massage-ceu--E315W.html\">Learn more.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Parkinson\u2019s disease is a fairly common progressive degenerative\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/programs\/advanced-anatomy-pathology-massage-ceu--E426.html\">central nervous system<\/a>\u00a0(CNS) disorder. Affecting approximately one million people in the U.S., Parkinson\u2019s disease is a dysfunction in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls voluntary movement. Characteristic symptoms of this chronic, progressive neurodegenerative movement disorder include tremors, rigidity, slow movement (bradykinesia), poor balance and difficulty walking (called parkinsonian gait).<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Although Parkinson&#8217;s disease symptoms may vary, they are often subtle in the beginning and commonly start on one side of the body. Symptoms may include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Tremor<\/em> \u2013 This is shaking that is common in the hand and fingers.<\/li>\n<li><em>Bradykinesia<\/em> \u2013 This is slow movement, making simple tasks take longer.<\/li>\n<li><em>Muscle rigidity<\/em> \u2013 Stiff muscles can occur anywhere and can cause pain and interfere with range of motion.<\/li>\n<li><em>Speech changes<\/em> \u2013 Parkinson\u2019s may cause speech to be softer, faster, monotone, slurred or hesitant.<\/li>\n<li><em>Poor balance<\/em> \u2013 Increasing the likelihood of a fall, Parkinson\u2019s is known to cause balance problems.<\/li>\n<li><em>Change in writing<\/em> \u2013 The coordination required to write may deteriorate, and those with Parkinson\u2019s typically write very small.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>The Physiology of Parkinson\u2019s<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Experts believe that in Parkinson&#8217;s disease, neurons in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of dopamine-producing neurons. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates motor neurons, the nerve cells that control muscles. When dopamine production is depleted, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination. People with Parkinson\u2019s disease have lost 80 percent or more of their dopamine-producing cells by the time symptoms appear. While symptoms may appear at any age, the average age of onset is 60 years old.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Western Medicine<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>In addition to not knowing the cause, there is also no cure for Parkinson\u2019s disease. Western medical treatment centers on the administration of medication to relieve symptoms. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a surgically implanted device that lessens tremors. Medication for Parkinson\u2019s disease is a process of experimentation and patience, as its selection and dosage must be individually tailored. As the disease progresses, medications and their dosages will likely require modification.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Medications<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Designed to influence dopamine levels, the mainstay medications prescribed for Parkinson\u2019s disease are Levodopa and carbidopa (Sinemet). Of primary concern to bodyworkers, hypotension is a\u00a0typical side effect of these drugs. Any client at increased risk of hypotension (low blood pressure) requires extra attention during a position change or when rising from a massage table. Additional medications for Parkinson\u2019s may include dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, anticholinergics and amantadine.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Alternative Medicine<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Tolerance to these medications builds with time, rendering them less effective and opening up the possibility of new side effects or unpredictable responses. Just like with medications, surgical therapies are not curative and often treat only selected aspects of Parkinson\u2019s disease. It is no wonder that an increasing number of those affected with Parkinson\u2019s are turning to complementary and alternative therapies for help.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Massage Therapy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The benefits of massage therapy have long been recognized by people with Parkinson\u2019s disease. Because Parkinson\u2019s disease typically causes muscle stiffness and rigidity, bodywork\u2019s ability to alleviate joint and muscle stiffness makes it a logical choice. As long as the client has sensation in the area being worked on, it is safe for bodywork. Communicating with a client throughout a bodywork session will ensure a positive experience. However, before working with a Parkinson\u2019s client, bodyworkers must understand the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Parkinson\u2019s disease is a CNS dysfunction, and will not be completely resolved with bodywork alone.<\/li>\n<li>Work in cooperation with a client\u2019s primary physician, as massage may impact the need for antidepressants and other medication.<\/li>\n<li>Since uncontrolled movement is characteristic of this disease, getting on and off a massage table may pose safety issues. Bodyworkers must predict this with Parkinson\u2019s clients and either improvise or take extra cautionary measures to ensure the client\u2019s safety.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Research<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>According to a 2002 study conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, along with staff from the university\u2019s neurology department and Duke University\u2019s pharmacology department,\u00a0Parkinson\u2019s disease symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. In this study, the group of adults with Parkinson\u2019s disease who received two massages a week for five weeks experienced improved daily functioning, increased quality of sleep and decreased stress-hormone levels. The massage consisted of 15 minutes in the prone position, focusing on the back, buttocks, ribs, thighs, calves and feet; and 15 minutes in the supine position, focusing on the thighs, lower legs, feet, hands, forearms, upper arms, neck, face and head. The study\u2019s authors reported, \u201cThese findings suggest that massage therapy enhances functioning in progressive or degenerative central nervous system disorders or conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While several different massage modalities have been quantifiably researched in the context of Parkinson\u2019s, including Trager, Alexander Technique and\u00a0Swedish massage, all modalities report improvement in function, from the reduction of rigidity and improvement of sleep, to the reduction of tremor and increase of daily activity stamina.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t be afraid of working with clients suffering from Parkinson\u2019s disease. The pathology of this condition and the success reported with massage therapy make physical manipulation of the musculoskeletal system an ideal Parkinson\u2019s management component. Being familiar with this disease and welcoming those affected can bring an enormous amount of satisfaction to any compassionate bodyworker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mpu_ad_2\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/programs\/nervous-system-disorders-massage-ceu--E315W.html\">Earn continuing education credit for this article<\/a> contained in our <em>Nervous System Disorders<\/em> series.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Recommended Study:<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/programs\/advanced-anatomy-pathology-massage-ceu--E426.html\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Advanced Anatomy and Pathology<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/programs\/swedish-massage-for-professionals-massage-ceu--E555.html\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Swedish Massage for Professionals<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>More Information:<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.themassagesource.com\/health-concerns\/parkinsons-disease\">Parkinson&#8217;s Disease: Massage Benefits and Precautions<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In addition to its tragic impact on voluntary motor skills, Parkinson\u2019s disease typically causes muscle stiffness and rigidity. Learn how bodywork can alleviate the symptoms of this increasingly common central nervous system disorder.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-123","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5622,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123\/revisions\/5622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.integrativehealthcare.org\/mt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}