{"id":377170,"date":"2026-04-13T10:22:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T10:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/377170\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T10:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T10:22:10","slug":"experts-urge-early-treatment-to-slow-parkinsons-progression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/377170\/","title":{"rendered":"Experts urge early treatment to slow Parkinson\u2019s progression"},"content":{"rendered":"

Combining medication with physical therapy in the early stages of Parkinson\u2019s disease<\/a> can significantly slow its progression, according to medical experts.<\/p>\n

Dr. G\u00f6zde \u00dcnal, a neurologist at Istanbul’s Kanuni Sultan S\u00fcleyman Training and Research Hospital, said Parkinson\u2019s is a progressive neurological disorder caused by a decrease in dopamine, a chemical in the brain responsible for movement.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), she said that the most common symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s include tremors at rest, slowed movement, muscle stiffness and impaired walking. The primary treatment, she noted, involves medications that replace the missing dopamine.<\/p>\n

She emphasized the importance of regular medical follow-ups, stating that proper medication use combined with exercise and physical therapy can yield substantial benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cPatients can maintain independent mobility for many years with the right approach,\u201d \u00dcnal said. \u201cThat is why these steps are crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advances in treatment<\/p>\n

\u00dcnal also highlighted recent advancements in Parkinson\u2019s treatment, including deep brain stimulation, commonly known as a \u201cbrain pacemaker.\u201d<\/p>\n

The procedure is performed on suitable patients following evaluation by a multidisciplinary team that includes neurosurgeons, neurologists, psychologists and psychiatrists. It involves placing electrodes in specific areas of the brain and has shown promising results, she said.<\/p>\n

However, \u00dcnal noted that the treatment is not appropriate for all patients and those who undergo the procedure often continue using some medications.<\/p>\n

She stressed that because Parkinson\u2019s is progressive, individuals should consult a neurologist as soon as they notice early symptoms.<\/p>\n

Early signs, diagnosis<\/p>\n

In addition to movement-related symptoms, \u00dcnal said Parkinson\u2019s may present with other early signs such as reduced sense of smell, sleep disturbances and constipation.<\/p>\n

Diagnosis is primarily clinical, based on patient history and physical examination, though imaging techniques and advanced tests may be used in some cases to evaluate dopaminergic neurons.<\/p>\n

She reiterated that medication remains the cornerstone of treatment, enabling patients to maintain active and independent lives when used consistently.<\/p>\n

Regular exercise, physical therapy and routine monitoring are also key components of effective disease management.<\/p>\n

Role of physical therapy<\/p>\n

Dr. \u0130smail Mert Zure, a specialist in physical therapy and rehabilitation at the same hospital, underscored the critical role of physical therapy in Parkinson\u2019s care.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysical therapy is an indispensable complement to medication,\u201d Zure said. \u201cIt becomes especially important when medication alone is not enough to preserve a patient\u2019s independence.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained that Parkinson\u2019s is a movement disorder, and patients often fear losing independence due to issues such as falls or difficulty handling objects.<\/p>\n

Physical therapy helps improve mobility, slow disease progression, and enhance quality of life when combined with medication, he said.<\/p>\n

Personalized rehabilitation programs<\/p>\n

Zure outlined the types of therapies used, including exercises to improve balance, coordination and walking rhythm. He noted that Parkinson\u2019s patients often experience shorter steps, slower walking and frequent falls.<\/p>\n

Treatment programs also include strengthening, stretching and range-of-motion exercises, as well as activities to improve fine motor skills such as buttoning a shirt, eating and holding a pen.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe goal is to help patients maintain independence and avoid reliance on others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Zure stressed the importance of starting physical therapy early, before significant loss of function occurs.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim is not just to regain lost abilities, but to prevent their loss in the first place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that modern rehabilitation may incorporate technology, including robotic-assisted walking exercises and devices designed to improve hand and arm function.<\/p>\n

However, Zure cautioned against relying on exercise programs found online without medical supervision.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see that self-prescribed exercises can worsen the condition and lead to poorer outcomes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also emphasized the importance of continuing prescribed exercises at home and the role of family support during the treatment process.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

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\n This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Combining medication with physical therapy in the early stages of Parkinson\u2019s disease can significantly slow its progression, according…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":377171,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[796,5658,134,196648,111,139,69,6919,11906],"class_list":{"0":"post-377170","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health","8":"tag-diagnosis","9":"tag-experts","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-neurologists","12":"tag-new-zealand","13":"tag-newzealand","14":"tag-nz","15":"tag-parkinsons-disease","16":"tag-physical-therapy"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/377170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=377170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/377170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/377171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=377170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=377170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=377170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}