Rehabilitation and ability preservation activities for Parkinson's sufferers
Unfortunately, as of today, there is no treatment that can cure Parkinson's disease. However, there are a variety of treatments that can significantly improve the symptoms of the disease. There are also rehabilitation and ability preservation activities that can help those with the disease cope with the symptoms of the disease, and help preserve their abilities and quality of life.
Rehabilitation and physiotherapy activities and continuous and intense physical activity help to preserve the abilities and quality of life of the participants, by contributing to strengthening muscles, improving flexibility and mobility, as well as improving balance. Physical activity has the ability to greatly reduce the degree of symptoms of the disease, thus helping the sufferer and encouraging him to live a more independent and creative life. The activity should begin as early as possible, immediately after the medical diagnosis.
Treatments with a speech therapist help improve speech and swallowing problems.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet can also help with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Eating a diet rich in fiber and drinking plenty of fluids can help those with constipation, which is also a symptom that some people with the disease suffer from.
Coping mentally with the challenges of the disease can be difficult and complex. The diagnosis itself may trigger fear, anxiety, and even depression, with the uncertainty about the progression of the disease intensifying these feelings. The difficulty in performing daily activities that were previously taken for granted may damage the person's sense of security and self-worth. Furthermore, social connections may be reduced due to shame or the effort involved in communication and movement. Emotional support, maintaining social connections, and creating connections with people who are experiencing similar challenges can help cope and improve quality of life.
The Parkinson's Association in Israel offers a wide range of activities aimed at assisting those affected, such as:
- Directions plan
- Sports and leisure activities inBranches Across the country and online as part of Parquet
- Ping-pong classes across the country
- Rehabilitation activities at subsidized cost by a wide variety of bodies and institutions within the framework Communities on the Move – Benefits Club
- Activation Support groups For contestants and family members
In addition, the association produced an assessment for self-management of the disease, which can help to optimally deal with the disease in all its aspects and challenges.
Below are links to additional content related to preserving abilities and quality of life:
- Movement problems among Parkinson's patients
- Solutions for speech and swallowing problems in Parkinson's
- "A Recipe for Quality of Life" – Summary of a Lecture by Dr. Ilana Tzur
- Apathy and Parkinson's
- Principles of physical activity for Parkinson's patients
- Depression and Parkinson's
- Coping with Parkinson's through guided imagery
- The Flexible Brain – Lecture Presentation by Sharon Yefet (March 2023)
- The Human Brain, Tools for Mental Health and Physical Improvement – Lecture Presentation by Sharon Yefet (August 2023)
- Coping with Parkinson's disease: from denial to insight
- Behavioral problems of Parkinson's patients and methods of treating them
- Leisure activities for contestants on the M.T.G. website