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Client with Parkinsons Disease - help!

I have only been licensed for a year and so I am seriously in the leaning curve. I have a client to work on this week who is in the beginning stages of Parkinsons and I need to make sure it is ok for me to work on him and things I need to be aware of, watch out for, do or not do, etc. I am doing a basic relaxation massage but he mentioned some numbness in his left leg. I would appreciate your insight.

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Permalink Reply by Misty Van Staaveren on February 1, 2010 at 11:29pm

I looked it up for you. This is what I found. Parkinson's disease is a progressive, degenerative neurological disorder marked by the destruction of the dopamine-producing neurons of the brain an ddepletion of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Symptoms are stopped posture, shuffling gait, and an expressionless face. Muscles may alternately contract and relax, causing tremors, while other muscles contract continuously, causing rigidity in the involved part. ***Obtain physician clearance if symptoms are severe. Use techniques to reduce rigidity. Do not force muslces or joints into movement.*** I hope that helps a little bit. I also found this article from massagemag.com http://www.massagemag.com/Magazine/2003/issue101/research101.php