Massage for Parkinson's DiseaseThe Parkinson's Disease Foundation says that "As many as one million Americans suffer from Parkinson's disease, which ismore than the combined number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease. Approximately 40,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year, and this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected. Incidence of Parkinson’s increases with age, but an estimated 15 percent of people with PD are diagnosed before the age of 50." If you are one suffering from this disease, the latest research shows that massage can assist in reducing some of the symptoms of Parkinson's such as rigidity that occurs with this disease. Massage can help you live more comfortably until a cure is found. Resent research and information on massage and Parkinson's show promise. Massage Magazine reports "Massage improved daily functioning, increased quality of sleep and decreased stress-hormone levels in people with Parkinson's disease, according to a recent study." in their article Massage Reduces Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease This article by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac. outlines some of the issues in working with Parkinson's clients The Benefits of Massage Therapy on Parkinson's Disease What I have found when working with patients with Parkinson's is that one massage a week isn't usually enough to get any relief and that regular massage 2-3x a week or even everyday is more effective.
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