Up-to-date rehabilitation in Parkinson’s patients.

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative brain disease. The dopamine producing cells in substantia nigra of basal ganglia are progressively degenerate. This causes patients unable to control their movements. Symptoms usually show up with bradykinesia, or slowness of movement and one or more of three following symptoms: (1) tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face, (2) rigidity, or stiffness of limbs and trunk (3) postural instability. In addition, abnormal autonomic nervous system, pain sensation, swallowing, bowel and bladder, sexual, emotion can present. At present, research and clinical evidences reveal that rehabilitation treatment can help the patients improve walking and movement abilities, have better balance, decrease fall risk, increase activities of daily living, and improve quality of life.