For anyone living with Parkinson’s Disease, the challenges of daily life include both physical and emotional struggles that severely impact mobility, independence, and quality of life. Parkinson’s Disease symptoms such as tremors, slower movements, stiff and painful muscles, and compromised balance, can take a toll on a patient’s mental health, in addition to physical limitations. Restricted mobility and difficulty with speech, along with changes in the brain, can cause depression, anxiety, and mood swings. There is no cure for Parkinson’s, but new treatments are coming to the forefront, like Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) and Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT.)
According to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, About 1 million Americans and about 10 million people worldwide are affected by Parkinson’s, with the majority showing signs after the age of 50. Medications that increase dopamine can be helpful, but some patients are resistant to drugs and/ or experience unwanted side effects long-term. Lifestyle changes are a big piece of managing life with Parkinson’s. Acupuncture, yoga, art and music therapy, and dance can all be a vital component to managing and slowing the progression of Parkinson’s.
Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Treat Parkinson’s?
Parkinson’s, like many neurological degenerative diseases, is characterized by loss of stem cells, inflammation, and vascular and capillary damage. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) promotes healing by delivering pressurized oxygen through a mask. Your body absorbs the excess oxygen and sends it to areas that have become hypoxic (reduced oxygen) through damage or disease. The increased oxygen in cells prevents inflammation and repairs damaged tissue- including brain tissue. (And we happen to have an HBOT chamber here at Ikigai! Go here to learn more.)
Studies on HBOT for patients with Parkinson’s showed an increase in oxygen in cerebral tissue, which protects neurons, slows the progression of the disease, and supports functional recovery. Patients on a 30-day course of HBOT even showed signs of improvement in depression, anxiety, and cognitive function.
Neurons require a lot of energy and oxygen. Without it, function and repair are difficult. With extra oxygen supply, neurons work better, increasing the possibility of improved symptoms. For many patients, sleep also improves, giving the brain a chance to rest and recover without disturbance.
Vibroacoustic Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease
Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) is a lesser-known but powerful treatment for Parkinson’s Disease symptoms. VAT provides low-frequency sound waves through a chair or mattress so it can be felt in the whole body, offering brain stimulation for Parkinson’s patients. Music and vibration are known to relax the nervous system and support neuroplasticity.
It is widely established that music therapy and movement can benefit those affected by neurological degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Treatments that ask patients to connect movement with rhythm, such as tapping a foot or a finger to a beat, improve motor control, gait impairments, and tremors by creating a connection between auditory stimulation and motor control.
Acoustic rhythms reinforce new neural networks in the brain and repair old ones, which can be life-changing for anyone affected by impaired movement patterns. Rhythmic music also restores motor control by activating the emotional-limbic network. Moving to a beat has a similar effect as dopamine medication, except the reward signal and motor control remain connected longer.
If just listening to rhythmic music can have such dramatic effects, imagine what can change when you feel vibrations throughout the body! Even without adding movement, the effects of vibration can reduce muscle tension, pain, and frequency of tremors. The enjoyment of music relaxes the nervous system, improving depression and anxiety and enhancing overall mood.
If you or someone you love lives with the everyday struggle of Parkinson’s and you’re ready for options outside the traditional standard of care, HBOT or VAT can offer relief. Schedule a consult to find out if these treatments are right for you!
