According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder belonging to a group of motor system disorders. The four major symptoms include tremors, stiffness or rigidity, slowed movement and balance and coordination issues. Vibration therapy was first experimented with for Parkinson's in the 19th century, and today it's once again being used as a treatment for the disease.
What Is Vibration Therapy?
According to an article published by Science@NASA, scientists have used vibration therapy as a possible way to help astronauts prevent bone loss. By 2001, vibration therapy was seen as a possible cure for osteoporosis. In October 2001, a study was published in an issue of FASEB Journal stating that only 10 minutes a day of vibration therapy promoted nearly normal rates of bone formation in rats. During the rest of the day, the rats had been prevented from bearing weight on their hind quarters. By 2008 and 2009, people were using vibration therapy to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
How Can Vibration Therapy Help Parkinson's Disease?
Vibration therapy may be effective in combating symptoms of Parkinson's disease, because it's beneficial in helping with balance and coordination issues. These symptoms tend to worsen over time with Parkinson's disease. This movement disorder becomes progressively worse as the nerve cells in the brain, which control muscle movement, become affected. All of the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be addressed with vibration therapy.
How Vibration Therapy Works
Vibration therapy exercises the muscles through involuntary stretch reflex to jump-start the patient's ability to rebuild muscle coordination and muscle tissue while reducing post-injury mechanical dysfunction. Vibration therapy enhances the body's natural healing response, increases cellular oxygen levels, increases circulation, stimulates cellular fluid and improves energy, strength and endurance. Additionally, vibration therapy may help reduce pain, stress, fatigue, cortisol, fat and cellulite, so it sometimes is used for weight loss purposes.
VibrationTherapy in History
Famous French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot designed a shaking chair for patients who had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease back in the 19th century. Charcot created the chair after his patients reported they slept better after a carriage ride. Charcot discovered that the chair helped patients of Parkinson's disease with stiffness, discomfort and aided them in getting better sleep.
Tags: Parkinson disease, symptoms Parkinson, symptoms Parkinson disease, with Parkinson, 19th century