Parkinson's disease

You may have found simple tasks and daily activities that you used to do easily, have become slower and more difficult for you to carry out. This could be due to hypokinesia (small movements), bradykinesia (slow movements), rigidity, cognitive difficulties, freezing or reduced motivation/ low mood.

Activities such as getting your keys or change out of your pocket or purse, packing the shopping, putting on your coat and fastening zips can all become challenging. Writing can become smaller. Getting out of bed, or up from your armchair can be harder to manage, and for many people with Parkinson’s, the fear of falling significantly impacts on your social life, and confidence to go out in the local community.

Recent evidence has changed and now supports the positive impact of exercise based treatment in people with Parkinson’s. Most recent evidence has suggested that exercise can significantly slow down the progression of the condition. I am LSVT BIG trained and use large amplitude, high effort, repetitive movements to help you move, and this then leads to improving the way you manage everyday activities.

We work together to identify your main priorities, and what is currently stopping you from carrying out daily routines, this includes looking at any other health needs. We can then work to create an individual action plan. I can also look at your home environment, and suggest practical changes to make it easier for you to move around, or recommend equipment/ adaptations to make activities safer.

I can support you and motivate you to maintain family life, work and leisure interests.

Ms S was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago. She was struggling to manage everyday activities, and struggling to get out in her community to manage the activities she valued. She undertook an eight week exercise program using LSVT principles.

“The exercise program gave me a framework to base my recovery on. I can’t thank you enough for all the encouragement and belief that you gave throughout, that it could work and provide people like me with constructive help in ‘standing up straight’, and keeping moving.

You may remember my goal was to be able to walk from my house below the Abbey, up the hill to the Abbey without stopping – well I do that regularly every day and usually more than once!”

Ms S, St Albans