Home Tips to Help with Parkinson’s Symptoms

Living with Parkinson's disease is easier with these do-it-yourself tips to help you keep up with normal routines.

Parkinson's disease can make daily life very difficult, but simple do-it-yourself home remedies that help treat Parkinson's symptoms can make living with the condition easier.

The muscle stiffness, weakness, and tremors of Parkinson’s can interfere with everyday activities, especially as the disease progresses. And Parkinson's mediations can cause distorted and involuntary movements, a side effect known as dyskinesia. Simple tasks like dressing, bathing, or even walking around the house can become frustrating.

The following tips are very useful in managing some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease;

Stretching to Loosen Stiff Muscles of Parkinson's 

1. Stand facing a wall, about 8 inches away and reaching your arms upward. Place your hands on the wall for balance and stretch out your arms and back.
2. Place your back against a wall for support and briskly march in place, lifting your knees as high as possible.
3. Sit in a chair with a high, straight back and stretch your arms behind it, bringing your shoulders back as far as you can. As you stretch, lift your head toward the ceiling.
4. Sitting in a chair, stomp your feet up and down while pumping your arms back and forth at your sides.

Good Dietary habits

Your diet can impact how well your medication helps to manage common Parkinson's symptoms, including tremors (involuntary shaking) and constipation.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation recommends avoiding certain foods because of possible medication interactions, including:

1. Cured, fermented, or dried meats or fish
2. Aged cheese (cheddar, blue cheese, Camembert)
3. Fermented cabbage (sauerkraut, kimchi)
4. Soy products (tofu, soy sauce)
5. Red wine and beer
6. Iron supplements (separate them from your medication dose by two hours or more)

In addition, fruits and vegetables in your diet may protect nerve cell function and possibly help keep Parkinson's symptoms under control. Fruits and veggies also provide fiber, which can stimulate bowel movement and prevent constipation. Ask your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist to help make it easier to follow a healthy diet.

Gait Training to Improve Balance

Patients with Parkinson's symptoms can enhance their treatment by doing what's called gait training at home. This involves practicing new ways to stand, walk, and turn. People undergoing gait training should try to:

1. Take large steps when walking straight ahead, focusing on proper heel-toe form.
2. Keep the legs at least 10 inches apart while turning or walking in order to provide more support and reduce the risk of falls.
3. Avoid shoes with rubber soles, as they can stick to the floor and increase risk of falls.
4. Walk to a steady rhythm.

Staying Safe at Home with Parkinson’s 

Simple changes around the home can make it easier for you to function well while dealing with Parkinson's symptoms.

Discuss specific strategies with your Parkinson's medical team to design a safer living space. Occupational therapists can suggest ways to create an environment that's friendly to those with Parkinson's; this type of therapist looks at things like furniture placement, handrails, extensions on toilets, and floor coverings to determine where possible hazards lie.

References

https://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/living-with-parkinsons-disease-tips#1

https://www.everydayhealth.com/parkinsons-disease/home-remedies-for-parkinsons-symptoms.aspx

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.