Parkinson's disease, also called Parkinsonism, is a fairly common progressive degenerative central nervous system (CNS) disorder. Parkinsonism results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that stimulates motor neurons, the nerve cells that control muscles. When dopamine production is depleted, the motor system nerves are unable to control movement and coordination. People with Parkinson's disease have lost 80% or more of their dopamine-producing cells by the time symptoms appear. While symptoms may appear at any age, the average age of onset is 60 years old.
The benefits of massage therapy have long been recognized by people with Parkinson's disease. Because Parkinson's disease typically causes muscle stiffness and rigidity, bodywork's ability to alleviate joint and muscle stiffness makes it a logical choice.
According to a 2002 study conducted by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami, along with staff from the university's neurology department and Duke University's pharmacology department, Parkinson's disease symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. In this study, the group of adults with Parkinson's disease who received two massages a week for five weeks experienced improved daily functioning, increased quality of sleep and decreased stress-hormone levels. The massage consisted of 15 minutes in the prone position, focusing on the back, buttocks, ribs, thighs, calves and feet; and 15 minutes in the supine position, focusing on the thighs, lower legs, feet, hands, forearms, upper arms, neck, face and head. The study's authors reported, "These findings suggest that massage therapy enhances functioning in progressive or degenerative central nervous system disorders or conditions."
