Osteopathy and Parkinson's - Gordon's story
Osteopaths stretch, move and massage muscles and joints to treat health problems. They’ll use their hands to find areas of tenderness, restriction or strain in your body.
Osteopathy is commonly used for conditions caused by problems with the nerves, joints and muscles, such as back and neck problems, joint pain or injuries.
Gordon has had Parkinson’s for 11 years and regularly sees an osteopath. He shares his experiences here.
A few years before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, I’d been in a bad car accident which left me with back problems. I used to have regular sports massage to help, but the practice was eventually closed.
It was my wife who encouraged me to see an osteopath. I hadn’t seen anyone for 2 years before that. My back was still a problem, but I experience rigidity and muscle cramps with my Parkinson’s, which can be painful.
I see my osteopath every 6 weeks now and treatment will depend on how I’ve been feeling in the week before. She might use massage, gentle manipulation or stretching. It doesn’t hurt, but the noise of cracking bones can make me tense!
My osteopath has a special interest in Parkinson’s. She understands it and talks to me about it when I’m there. We learn from each other and I do think you get more out of something if you connect with a person.
If my osteopath has worked me really hard, it might be a couple of days before I start feeling the benefits. But often I feel better as soon as I walk out of the door. It’s the best money I spend and helps me dramatically.