Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement, leading to symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and slowing of movement. Some of the first noticeable symptoms of Parkinson's disease are voice and speech changes. As the disease progresses, it can also impact cognitive function and emotional health.
Individuals over the age of 60 are at the highest risk for developing Parkinson's disease, though it can occur in younger adults. Risk factors include a family history of the disease, exposure to certain environmental toxins and gender, with men being slightly more likely to develop Parkinson's than women.
As these symptoms can significantly impact daily life, identifying them early is crucial to managing the disease effectively through tailored treatment for Parkinson's.
Parkinson's disease patients can benefit from specialized therapies that improve their quality of life. Therapies such as physical, occupational and speech and language pathology can improve motor symptoms like tremors, rigidity and slowness of movement. These therapies also help maintain flexibility, balance and coordination for daily activities. Non-motor symptoms like sleep disturbances, depression and cognitive changes can also be addressed through tailored therapeutic strategies, improving emotional well-being and cognitive function.
Additionally, family members and caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease can benefit from therapies as they can gain valuable insights and strategies to provide effective support. Parkinson's disease therapy and support groups offer a comprehensive approach that not only benefits those directly affected by the disease but also extends support to those around them, fostering a network of care and understanding.
Diagnosing Parkinson's disease involves a careful examination of medical history, a review of symptoms and sometimes specialized tests to rule out other conditions. While there is no single test for Parkinson's disease, your care team will use a combination of diagnostic methods to accurately identify the disease and tailor a personalized, comprehensive treatment plan.
At Bryn Mawr Rehab, we take a creative approach to Parkinson’s disease treatment that can include speech, occupational and physical therapies, which may include:
Bryn Mawr Rehab’s physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy teams offer specialized training and experience in rehabilitation services for patients with Parkinson’s disease and are certified in LSVT BIG® and LSVT LOUD®. Our patients further benefit from technology-assisted therapy for Parkinson's disease such as the Bioness Vector, Lokomat® Pro, Lite Gait and/or Balance Master.
We offer a six-week program for LSVT BIG® graduates. Taking place at noon on Wednesdays, this program’s requirements include:
For more information and to register, call 484.596.5000.
The focus of the group is to enhance quality of life through education, symptom management and strategies for support and coping. Meetings are facilitated by Main Line Health clinicians and staff.
The Parkinson’s disease support group has resumed in-person meetings at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital on the third Tuesday of each month. For information about joining the Parkinson’s support group meetings, call 484.596.5725 or email parkinsupportgr@mlhs.org.
For caregivers and family members, it's important to be involved in a Parkinson patient's treatment. Family involvement ensures that even when patients are at home, they can have someone to depend on who understands their challenges and is willing to help monitor and encourage their daily exercises.
With three locations in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, we’re sure to offer pelvic floor rehabilitation near you. Our pelvic floor PTs treat pelvic floor conditions in men and women and we’re able to offer comprehensive treatments for these sometimes complex conditions.
For people with work-related injuries and chronic pain, we offer a range of therapies through RehabWorks, a worker rehabilitation program that brings together a multidisciplinary team to support people who have lost functional capacity due to a work-related illness or injury.
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital offers an extensive, progressive neurologic outpatient rehabilitation program for patients who may be able to function on their own, but wish to function even better.
Learn how Main Line Health can change the lives of you and your loved ones through physical and cognitive rehab for several conditions and injuries.
The neurology team at Main Line Health treats and manages conditions such as migraines, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and more.
Occupational therapy and sensory integration helps patients who’ve experienced a debilitative injury or illness return to activities of daily living (ADL), such as dressing, eating, writing, shopping, toileting and driving.
As one of the most extensive programs at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, our primary focus is to help patients build strength, mobility and endurance for a variety of orthopaedic conditions.
Independence is a major goal of every rehabilitation program. For over 30 years, the driver rehabilitation program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital has offered a unique way for patients to return to this crucial aspect of their lives.
