Parkinson's Disease
Conventional treatments for Parkinson's
Because the course and presentation of Parkinson’s disease (PD) varies from person to person, you will work closely with a team of healthcare providers to determine the best treatments to manage your specific symptoms. Conventional treatments may include:
Medication
The time to begin taking medications for PD is different for everyone. For many people, the first step is simply to work with your healthcare team to monitor your symptoms. Your provider may recommend medication when your symptoms begin interfering with your activities of daily living, especially exercising and movement.
You may first be prescribed medication for motor symptoms. These medications may include levodopa (which is converted into dopamine in the brain) or a dopamine agonist (which uses synthetic chemicals to stimulate dopamine receptors). Levodopa is considered the gold standard for alleviating symptoms of PD. It is used in combination with another medication, carbidopa, to help tolerate side effects and reduce the amount of levodopa needed.
Your healthcare provider may also recommend medications for non-motor symptoms individualized to your experience of PD, such as medications to help with cognition, mood, or bowel and bladder issues. You should always tell your provider about any other medications, herbs, or supplements you are taking, to avoid drug interactions.
Physical therapy
Working with a physical therapist can help you target your motor symptoms through specific exercises, which can keep you moving as best you can for as long as possible. A physical therapist can help you with balance and preventing falls, and offer tips for overcoming your specific movement challenges.
Parkinson’s-specific programs such as LSVT-BIG or PWR! Moves- which can improve movements associated with daily living (getting dressed, standing up from a chair) - might be recommended.
Occupational therapy
An occupational therapist can help you continue to perform the basic activities in your life either by modifying them to meet your current abilities or suggesting alternatives that are also satisfying. They also help with cognitive assessment and how to accomplish tasks. They can evaluate your environment and suggest modifications to make it more safe.
Occupational therapy is highly individualized, depending on what movements and activities bring meaning to your life. Nearly everyone aims to maintain self-care activities, such as brushing teeth and getting dressed, but you should also consider the hobbies and routines that make your life enjoyable - such gardening, sewing, or cooking.
Speech therapy
According to the Parkinson Foundation, up to to 89% of people with PD experience vocal changes, including slurring, a weak voice, and difficulty swallowing. Speech therapy can be useful for these issues, though the exercises your speech therapist uses may vary depending on your symptoms, as there isn’t one single technique that has been proven to be most effective. One example of a speech therapy technique is helping patients learn to speak louder than they think is necessary, to compensate for diminished voice. Speech therapy can also help patients overcome social anxiety associated with being unable to come up with the right words in conversation.
Deep brain stimulation
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical procedure in which a surgeon places a thin wire called a “lead” deep into the part of the brain that controls movement. The surgeon also puts a pacemaker-like device (an implantable pulse generator) in the chest area. This device sends electrical stimulation to the cells that are not working properly. It is thought that DBS interrupts the abnormal brain signals that cause abnormal movement or prevent movement.
This technique can be especially helpful for patients who experience a gradual loss of effectiveness from standard medications. DBS is brain surgery, and it is not a cure - nor will it stop PD from progressing over time. For many people, it can provide 4-6 more hours of “on” time during the day and improve symptoms like stiffness, slowness, tremors, and other abnormal involuntary movements.
This Parkinson's disease resource is made possible through funding from the Medtronic Foundation. Learn how people living with Parkinson's Disease are changing the world by visiting http://
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Parkinson’s Foundation. (2021). Occupational therapy. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Treatment/Occupational-Therapy
Parkinson’s Foundation. (2021). Prescription medications. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Treatment/Prescription-Medications
Parkinson’s Foundation. (2021). Physical therapy. https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Treatment/Physical-Therapy
Parkinson’s Foundation. (2019). Speech therapy and Parkinson’s. https://www.parkinson.org/pd-library/fact-sheets/Speech-Therapy
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