Parkinson’s is a progressive disease of the nervous system that causes involuntary movements, such as tremors, stiffness and difficulty with balance and coordination.  Sometimes, it starts with a barely noticeable tremor in only one hand. 

The most prominent signs and symptoms of  Parkinson’s disease occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, deteriorate and/or die.

Symptoms & Treatments | Neurological Rehabilitation | BIG y LOUD | rTMS

Normally, these nerve cells, or neurons, produce an important brain chemical known asdopamine. When neurons die or deteriorate, they produce less dopamine, leading to movement problems associated with the disease.

Sometimes the onset of the disease can be  related to hereditary factors, and sometimes they can be attributed to specific genetic mutations.

While genetics are thought to play a role in Parkinson’s, in most cases, the disease does not appear to run in families. Many researchers now believe that Parkinson’s is the result of acombination of genetic and environmental factors, such as exposure to toxins.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of this disease are subtle and occur gradually.

Parkinson’s has four main symptoms:

  • Tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
  • Muscle stiffness, where the muscle stays contracted for a long time
  • Slowness of movement
  • Postural instability, which contributes to impaired balance and coordination

Although Parkinson’s disease has no cure, therapy can markedly improve symptoms.

Treatments

We offer specialized neurological rehabilitation for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The first step is the NeuroFT Initial Assessment.  This assessment will determine what will be the ideal treatment depending on the stage, involvement and individual characteristics of the person. Based on this assessment, we determine the best treatment, in conjunction with your GP.

The NeuroFT Clinic offers three types of possible treatments for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease:

  • Neurological Rehabilitation
  • BIG and LOUD treatments
  • Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Neurological Rehabilitation Treatment

The NeuroFT Clinic offers specialized neurological rehabilitation focused on improving the quality of gait, flexibility and agility during activities of daily living and exercise, improving balance and balance, increasing functional independence, and quality of life of each of the people we treat.

BIG and LOUD Treatment

 The NeuroFT Clinic is the only clinic certified to provide intensive treatment of BIG and LOUD in Central America. This treatment is endorsed by the American LSVT Association. The protocol consists of 16 sessions spaced over the span of a month, performing four weekly sessions of one hour each.

 LSVT LOUD treatment  focuses on improving pitch, production, and voice quality to improve communication.  LSVT BIG treatment  focuses on recalibrating physical movements to achieve greater functional independence.

Scientific studies have shown improvements in gait gait length, decreased risk of falls, and increased confidence and daily independence.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

 Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) activates specific areas of the brain through an electromagnetic field which excites brain neurons.

This treatment consists of 10 sessions of rTMS spaced in two weeks, along with 10 sessions of neurological rehabilitation immediately after brain stimulation to accelerate the rehabilitation process and thus improve the quality of life.

If you are interested in being evaluated and starting any of the treatments mentioned above, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment at any of our two locations.