HD PHYSICAL THERAPY Recognizes National Parkinson’s Awareness Month

WAKEFIELD, Mass. - April 16, 2014 - PRLog -- This April, millions of people around the world will recognize April as Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

Statistics show:

Nearly one million Americans are living with Parkinson’s.

Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected.

Seven to 10 million people worldwide are estimated to be living with Parkinson’s disease.

Incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated four percent of people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed before the age of 50.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. The condition is associated with the inability to produce the chemical dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger within the brain that transmits information between brain cells to signal the body to produce movement. The reduction of dopamine causes symptoms such as tremors, tightening of the muscles, slowing down of and difficulty initiating movement. These indicators can cause a great deal of disability, yet can be effectively managed with physical therapy.

Physical therapy cannot cure Parkinson's disease; at this time, neurological damage cannot be reversed. But therapy can help you compensate for the changes brought about by the condition. These treatments include learning about new movement techniques, strategies and equipment. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen and loosen muscles. The goal of physical therapy is to improve your independence and quality of life by improving movement, function and relieving pain.

A physical therapist will work closely with the patient and family members to monitor the condition and improve functional capacity as much as possible. The therapist will conduct an evaluation of gait, balance, coordination, strength and posture. The caregiver is provided the tools and information to keep the patient mobile with movement patterns and home exercise programs.

“After college, I began working at Massachusetts General Hospital in the memory disorders unit. Assisting people with neurological and cognitive impairments facilitated my strong interest in the field; I enjoy working with patient's with Parkinson’s and other neurological conditions,” says HDPT physical therapist Christine Cunha, DPT. “My goal is to enable my patients to live well by providing effective interventions to promote health and well-being, and by educating them on long-term self-management strategies. Seeing how much I can help people with Parkinson’s disease, as well as educating their families with different techniques that improve their lives, is a very rewarding experience,” says Dr. Cunha.

At HD Physical Therapy, ADVANCE Magazine's 2013 ‘Best PT Practice Contest’ silver medalist, we are committed to the health and happiness of our patients. Everyday we work to restore each person's maximal function with consistency and compassion. Offering distinctive, inventive and proven rehabilitation treatment, our devoted professionals strive to deliver a successful and enjoyable experience to every patient we meet. HDPT proudly serves the communities of Wakefield, Reading, North Reading, Wilmington, Lynnfield, Saugus, Melrose, Peabody, Stoneham, the North Shore, and Essex County, Massachusetts. For more information about HD Physical Therapy, please call 781-587-0776, or visit www.HDPTonline.com.