ABSTRACT
Introduction The introduction of levodopa therapy in 1967 revolutionized the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.1 Levodopa therapy produces obvious clinical improvement in motor function as tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia respond dramatically to the medication.2
However, axial signs such as rising from a chair, turning over in bed, posture, gait and postural equilibrium are known to respond less well to levodopa treatment,3-5 and despite optimal drug management patients develop progressive disability. The development of this disability and the impact it has on patients’ roles may be minimized by non-pharmacological therapies. This chapter examines the use of non-pharmacological therapies in Parkinson’s disease. We have selected those therapies for which randomized controlled trials in Parkinson’s disease have been made. The selection reflects both current paramedical practice within the NHS and the increasing interest in complementary therapies.
