What are non-medical treatments for Parkinson's disease?


"Treatments" can be divided into two categories. 1) Neuroprotective treatments slow, halt, or reverse the underlying neurodegenerative process that causes the loss of cells in the brain. 2) Symptomatic treatments improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease without slowing the underlying course. All current approved therapies fall into this second category.

There is no evidence from randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled experiments for a Neuroprotective effect (slowing the underlying disease process in the brain) from any traditional or alternative therapies.

For treatment of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, consider the following evidence:
·      Tai Chi to improve balance and postural stability.  This was a randomized, single-blinded experiment where Tai Chi was compared to traditional resistance training and to stretching. Tai Chi  showed greater improvement in the primary outcomes than the other two  groups: Tai Chi and Postural Stability in Patients with Parkinson's Disease — NEJM


·       Low-intensity, long duration walks for improving walking speed.  Single-blinded, randomized trial comparing resistance training, high-intensity short duration exercise, and low-intensity long duration exercise. Patients in the low-intensity treadmill exercise group had the  greatest improvement in gait speed.: Randomized Clinical Trial of 3 Types of Physical Exercise for Patients With Parkinson Disease
·    Forced exercise may improve Parkinson's symptoms. In an open-label, unblended, study, patients participated in forced exercise on a bike that over-paced the patient's maximal pedal speed. This improved Parkinson's disease clinical rating scales but there was no control group and the patients were unblended. 
Reference: Kelly Mills

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