Physical Therapy Interventions for Parkinson’s Disease
Posted On: February 23, 2026 by Robert Matijevich
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes disordered movements.The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease naturally increases with age with the average onset being 60 years old. It is the second most common neuro-degenerative condition after Alzheimer’s disease and is the fastest growing neurological disorder globally.
Parkinson’s causes deterioration of the basal ganglia in the brain. Neurons that are located in the basal ganglia slowly die and cause reduction of a chemical messenger called Dopamine. Dopamine is required for fine tuning and coordinating motor movements.
Parkinson’s symptoms typically start slowly and progress over years or decades. Symptoms of Parkinsons can include a resting tremor, rigidity and stiffness in the muscles, poor posture, difficulty with balance, slowed movements, and difficulty with speech and trouble swallowing. Later stages of Parkinson’s can often affect how your brain functions and cause dementia-like symptoms and depression.
Treatment for Parkinson’s emphasizes addressing symptoms as there is currently no cure. Treatment typically centers around medication management to replace the dopamine that is lost in the brain. A combination of medication along with exercise based treatment has also shown to decrease symptoms and maintain function. According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, increasing physical activity to at least 2.5 hours a week can slow Parkinson’s symptom progression. Physical therapy is one option that can help to improve balance, increase strength, correct posture, and improve coordination. Some physical therapists are certified in specialized techniques specifically for Parkinson’s Disease such as the LSVT BIG program. The Parkinson’s Foundation and LSVT Global are valuable resources for finding certified therapists as well as other resources and support for individuals and families affected. You can find information at Parkinson.org and LSVTglobal.com.
