I Wear Red Lipstick Every Day

James Parkinson in 1817 defined it as "involuntary shaking movements with decreased muscle strength in areas that are not in activity, propensity to bend the trunk forward and to move from place to run, while the senses and intellect remain unchanged. "

This occurs by disruption and loss of neurons in a given area of \u200b\u200bthe brainstem. This area is the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia, which control the movements are performed automatically as walking. Causes


is a disorder that occurs in middle age and later life, which has a very gradual progression and a prolonged evolution. Although it has been observed in family groups, usually has a sporadic and an unknown cause. Symptoms


The stooped posture, stiffness and slowness of movements and facial blankness and the rhythmic shaking of the members refer to voluntary movements, are the main characteristics of this disease.

The slow movement is usually more or less general, associated with muscle stiffness, which prevents the normal course of business. They also suffer a loss of the ability of healthy people have to make minor changes in automatic and spontaneous posture, to do any activity or to take different positions.

tremor usually is more pronounced in the hands but can also affect legs, lips, tongue and neck muscles. Hence usually affected both speech and writing.

The gait of these people is with rapid steps and awkward, and excessive acceleration as if to catch its center of gravity, which is ahead of them.

usually have continuous feelings of tiredness because of incoordination of different muscle groups.

The severity of symptoms is strongly influenced by emotional factors such as anxiety, tension and feelings of unhappiness, which aggravate the clinical picture.

Although intellectual impairment is not a constant feature, with increasing dementia is often seen in advanced stages of disease. Physiotherapy


The discovery of effective drugs against this disease, such as Levodopa, and the integration of the patient in a rehabilitation program that carries a possible life acceptable and integrated into society.

useful is a progressive program of daily exercises help alleviate various movement disorders, making them feel safe and maintaining an adequate quality of life.
• Exercises to improve muscle strength, coordination and dexterity, reduce stiffness and prevent contractures from disuse of muscles.
• Exercises to improve joint mobility, such as walking.
• Stretching exercises for muscle structures are as flexible as possible.
• postural exercises to try to slow the trend of maximum tilt of the trunk and head.
• Special techniques for the march, in order to overcome the disturbances of the same and the trend mentioned above. From principle is aware the patient to walk as erect as possible, look ahead and open your feet slightly to increase its base of support and stability, combine the swing of the arms and lift your feet.
• The pace and speed of the exercise should be moderate and can help with music that has an appropriate pace and will facilitate the realization of the exercises.
• Coordinate activities with breathing exercises, which will bring the patient to have more stamina and less tiring. Anyway, is it advisable to perform frequent rest periods.

As in any subject with a neurological impairment, work that causes the patient to develop and adapt to their condition, depends on a team of many professionals. In this way, doctors, therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and many others, and the family must work together to integrate these people into a life as normal as possible.

Compiled by: Dr. Erika Cyrus Barker