From Dr. Farley

This article provides scientific support for a pattern that physical therapists who treat people with Parkinson’s routinely observe. These PTs regularly discover that a newly diagnosed client has been living with pain for years, often in the hip, back, shoulders, feet, and/or hands. Furthermore, many clients have recently undergone knee or shoulder surgery, only to find out that the pain persists despite lengthy rehabilitation, because these interventions did not address the root cause of the pain – PD-related rigidity. If these individuals had seen a neurologist early on for a second opinion, they may have been diagnosed with PD earlier, started on medication sooner, and/or avoided unnecessary surgery and rehab. Levodopa, a commonly-prescribed PD medication, reduces rigidity, which is often the source of pain in people with PD. Rigidity not only causes pain, but can precipitate scoliosis, postural changes, shoulder impingement, tightness in the hip flexor and hamstrings, narrow base of support, and/or reduced arm swing and facial expression. One way experienced PD experts can determine whether pain is caused by rigidity is by tracking whether it improves with repetitive whole body movement and stretching.  If you have questions about your pain, talk to your PWR!Gym physical therapist or a certified PWR!Moves Therapist in your area.

“Patients likely to have prodromal, or early, Parkinson’s disease tend to have a higher prevalence of pain, according to a new study.