By Lisa Hotaling, PT at Request Physical Therapy A progressive disorder of the nervous system resulting in loss of dopamine-producing brain cells; Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common degenerative brain disorder, second only to Alzheimer disease. Patients diagnosed with PD may experience one or more of these symptoms: tremor, slowed movement (bradykinesia), rigidity…
Falls are prevalent, dangerous, and costly. About one in three seniors above age 65, and nearly one in two in two seniors over age 80, will fall at least once this year, many times with disastrous conse-quences. As our nation’s population ages, the number of falls is doing anything but falling, in fact it is…
You are the most important member of your own health care team, and you are entitled to choose the most appropriate health care professional to meet your goals. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has provided the following guidelines for choosing a physical therapist for your care. Freedom of Choice You have the freedom to…
Dizziness is a common problem, especially among older adults. In fact, for people over the age of 65, dizziness is one of the most common reasons for physician visits and hospitalizations. Regardless of the cause of dizziness, the sooner you get help, the better. The balance problems that may come with it—can be caused by…