How can massage help with parkinsons disease

Marc Mitnick Moderator. Massage is so relaxing, calming and releases the kinks and tightness in the body. As soon as the virus is over, I will definitely get one. Any suggestions? Suzanne Troy Moderator. Let us know if this works for you. All rights reserved. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions.

Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. By Gretchen Church January 18, Share to Facebook Share to Twitter email print page Bookmark for later comment 8 Reactions 0 reactions. Massage for Parkinson's So where does massage fit into the overall package for maintaining a healthy lifestyle for a person with PD? What to expect Massage therapy should not hurt! Sign up for emails from ParkinsonsDisease. Comments 6 comments. Story I Can't Complain Reactions 0 reactions.

Comments 1 comments. This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The ParkinsonsDisease. Massage can help with muscle spasms and rigidity.

Massage can help keep the body flexible and able to handle more activity. Massage therapy promotes healthy and deep sleep by relaxing the body and giving the mind a chance to rest as well. Massage can reduce the occurrence of restlessness and thrashing during sleep. There are many different types of massage. I also take into account levels of pain and the amount of pressure a patient prefers. This depends on many factors and will be evaluated on a case by case situation.

Some are gentle, aiming to trigger the release of endorphins the body's own painkillers and promote a sense of relaxation and wellbeing. Other techniques are more vigorous to help stretch uncomfortable muscles, ease stiff joints and so improve mobility and flexibility. Massage should not hurt, although you may experience some discomfort if pressure is applied.

It is not suitable if you have certain medical conditions such as deep vein thrombosis, damaged blood vessels, bleeding disorders or you take blood thinners such as Warfarin.

It is not suitable if you have weakened or fractured bones. If you have bruising or wounds you should wait for these to heal before having a massage.

It can also help reduce stress, promote relaxation and enable you to identify tension in your body, and so find ways to minimise or reduce this. Tension can make symptoms worse so it is important to keep it under control.

Massage can also be invigorating and stimulating, both for the mind and body. Symptoms may include:. 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. While symptoms may appear at any age, the average age of onset is 60 years old. Western medical treatment centers on the administration of medication to relieve symptoms. As the disease progresses, medications and their dosages will likely require modification.

Of primary concern to bodyworkers, hypotension is a typical 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. Tolerance to these medications builds with time, rendering them less effective and opening up the possibility of new side effects or unpredictable responses.

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.