Parkinson's Disease

Do you know who is this? Yeah, you're right!! =) The one and only man in this world who can beat George Foreman in knock out, Muhammad Ali. Great boxer, a great man, a great father who have also a great daughter, Laila Ali.
But, a great and strong man like him can't even escape from the power of nature, that is having disease that he is now many people know as Parkinson's Disease. Some have said that the disease is came from the blow by George Foreman. Maybe true because that kind of blows physically to Ali is like defending from being hit by a truck. If you didnt watch the match yet, just search in Youtube. What a great match to watch.

Alright, now, what we are discussing here is about the Parkinson's disease, how does it happen, the symptoms and how to overcome them.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system that produce movement disorder and changes in mood and cognition. The movement disorder in this disease as you can see how Ali is walking, shaked hand, slow movement, gait pattern abnormalities and shuffling gait.

The disease occur is because there is a deplete production of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine reduces the influence of the indirect pathway while increasing the actions of the direct pathway within the basal ganglia. Reduced number of dopamine will lead to the symptom described above, loses the ability to execute smooth, controlled movements.
If you want to know more about basal ganglia, you can watch this video
     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3po7dUCCoE

how the dopamine can be depleted? It is because of aging process, environmental factor and genetic factor. And in Muhammad Ali case?? I think it is because aging process. PLUS, damage done during his boxing career to the brain. =D (I guest)

So, how to treat patient with Parkinson disease physically?

}Gait re-education

}Improve balance and flexibility

}Facilitate initiation of movement

}Improve or maintain general(cardiovascular) fitness

}Increase functional independence

}Ensuring safety within at home

}To prevent muscle contracture

 

 Below is the link for a powerpoint presentation describing more on detail about Parkinson's disease treatment in physiotherapy

http://www.mediafire.com/?83icwl730b02050