Parkinson's Disease - Lifestyle Changes

Mental Tasks. Mental training may actually increase dopamine in the brain. And some studies indicate that being mentally fit may be as important for PD patients as being physically fit. Helpful approaches may include the following:

Select and learn new hobbies that require finger and hand mobility, such as sewing, carpentry, fishing, or playing cards.
Practice deep breathing and relaxation exercises. These may help maintain proper speech control, control tremor, and reduce anxiety.
Both the patient and any caregivers should consider psychologic therapy and support for depression and loss of motivation. (One study suggests that marital stress can even produce loss of mobility.) Even if psychological therapy is too costly, inexpensive support programs and groups are widely available and can be invaluable for the patient and the family.

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Speech Therapy. Speech therapy may help those who develop a monotone voice and lose volume, particularly in combination with medications. There are no well-conducted studies comparing specific speech therapies, but the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) appears to be an example of an effective technique. It has five major components:

Focus on the voice ("think loud/think shout").
High effort (pushes patients to overcome limitations).
Intensive treatment (16 sessions in one month).
Calibration (learning to know and accept the amount of effort needed to produce normal sound so it becomes automatic).
Quantification (continuous feedback to objectively document success).

LSVT may not only help speech but may even improve swallowing.

Equipment and Devices. A number of devices can be helpful for maintaining stability and preventing falls. The following are some examples:

Rails installed where the patient needs support in getting up or down, such as along the bed and in the bathroom.
Walkers with locking wheels. (Walkers do not appear to be helpful for freezing.)
Chairs with straight backs, firm seats, and arm rests.
Firm mattresses and satin sheets or less expensive sheets with high thread counts. (These are useful for helping patients slide out of bed.)