Effects of Massage Therapy on Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease, also called Parkinsonism, is quite a widespread progressive degenerative central nervous system condition. Parkinson’s disease attacks the basal ganglia which is responsible for the regulation of voluntary muscle movement. The cardinal manifestations of this chronic CNS disease include slow movement, also known as bradykinesia, tremors, rigidity, problem with walking pattern called parkinson’s gait, and poor balance. Parkinson's disease is caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which induces the nerve cells that are responsible for muscle movements called motor neuron fibers. When there is decreased production of dopamine, these nerve fibers can no longer manage coordination and movement.

As the cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, so is the permanent cure. However, there are medicines which can only relieve some symptoms temporarily by maintaining the levels of dopamine. These are Carbidopa and Levodopa. Sinemet is the drug which has the combination of the two components. As typical of any synthetic medications, there are side effects in taking these drugs, primarily hypotension. This is probably the reason why the number of patients with Parkinson's disease who turns to complementary and alternative treatment options increases.

Many patients with Parkinson's disease have been thankful for the benefits of massage therapy. The usual problems of these patients are the muscle rigidity and stiffness which massage can help relieve by decreasing the stiffness. Make sure that the patient has a sensation on the area to be massaged before starting the session. Good communication is essential between the patient and the therapist for best results.

The benefits of massage therapy for Parkinson's disease include decrease in tremor and rigidity, relaxation, decrease in anxiety, improved sleep, and relief from depression.

The Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami conducted a research in 2002 about the effectiveness of massage on Parkinsonism. The study was done with the staff of neurology department of the university and pharmacology department of Duke University. The study reveals that symptoms of Parkinsonism significantly decreased. The test involved a group of Parkinson's disease adult patients who received 2 sessions of massage therapy for 5 succeeding weeks. The process involved 15-minute massage in supine position targeting the head, face, arms, hands, thighs, calves, and feet; and also 15-minute massage on the prone position which focused on the back, ribs, buttocks, thighs, calves, and feet. They reportedly had improved sleep, increased activities of daily living, and reduced levels of stress hormones.

Other forms of massage therapy have been studied, such as Swedish massage, Trager, and Alexander technique, in relation to their effectiveness with Parkinson's disease symptoms. All of them have been found beneficial and there were significant improvement on the levels of tremor and muscle rigidity, better sleep, and enhanced endurance for day-to-day activities.

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