Parkinson’s Disease/Lower Extremity Exercise
DBS effect on Gait Disorders
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.
One clear risk factor for Parkinson’s is age. Although most people with Parkinson’s first develop the disease at about age 60, about 5 to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s have “early-onset” disease, which begins before the age of 50. Early-onset forms of Parkinson’s are often, but not always, inherited, and some forms have been linked to specific gene mutations.
Parkinson’s Programs
Optimizing Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination. Symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time. As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking and talking. They may also have mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.
One clear risk factor for Parkinson’s is age. Although most people with Parkinson’s first develop the disease at about age 60, about 5 to 10 percent of people with Parkinson’s have “early-onset” disease, which begins before the age of 50. Early-onset forms of Parkinson’s are often, but not always, inherited, and some forms have been linked to specific gene mutations.
Parkinson’s Disease Programs Overview
The FES Center’s research for the rehabilitation of people with Parkinson’s Disease can be segmented into three main areas: the use and optimization of deep brain stimulation for treatment of various Parkinson’s-related symptoms, combining long-term exercise programs with DBS to better understand the benefits of exercise for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease, and assisting with various other studies that explore the use of other potential treatments.
Led by committed clinicians and scientists, FES Center programs focus on applying both FES interventions and traditional treatments to produce the greatest functional gains.
Lower Extremity Exercise
