Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). The motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the death of dopamine-generating cells in the substantia nigra, a region of the midbrain; the cause of this cell death is unknown. Early in the course of the disease, the most obvious symptoms are movement-related, including dyskinesia (involuntary snake-like movements) rigidity, slowness of movement (bradykinesia), resting tremor, and difficulty with walking and gait.

Regular physical exercise can be beneficial to maintain and improve mobility, flexibility, strength, gait speed, and quality of life. However, when an individualised exercise program is developed under the supervision of a neurophysiotherapist, there are improved outcomes in motor function, cognitive and emotional well-being, daily living activities, and quality of life.