Complementary Therapies for Parkinson’s
Between the varieties and combinations of medications and surgical therapies available for people living with Parkinson’s, many people have found conventional treatment regimens that work well for them. However, the options to help people with Parkinson’s live well don’t stop there. There are various complementary therapies (those that are used alongside traditional medical treatment) that people with Parkinson’s experiment with, under the care of their medical team, to reduce symptoms even more.
In this collection of resources, we share information and advice about many of the complementary therapies people in our community have tried, from rehabilitative therapies like physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy to laughter yoga, dance, tai chi, and much more.
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A List of Complementary Therapies for Parkinson’s
Complementary therapies are those that are used alongside traditional medical treatment. This is different from alternative therapies, which are used in place of traditional medical treatment. This post highlights 19 complementary therapies that people in our community have tried and found beneficial.
The Victory Summit® Event: Physical, Occupational, and Speech-Language Therapy
In 2020, The Victory Summit® Event: Boise centered around rehabilitative therapies, with sessions led by experts in physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy. Here, you can watch the videos of the presentations, view the slides, and read the session transcripts to learn more about how these therapies can help you live well with Parkinson’s right away. (Bonus session: see how dance therapy and creativity help Davis Phinney Foundation Ambassador Amy Carlson live well with Parkinson’s every day!)
Living Well with Parkinson’s through Dance and Movement
Dancing has been shown to improve gait and balance, reduce tremor, slow cognitive decline, and improve overall coordination and mobility in people with Parkinson’s. And, as a result, it has become one of the more popular activities that people with Parkinson’s do to improve their quality of life. In this webinar, founding teacher of Dance for PD® David Leventhal talks about how to manage Parkinson’s with the mind of a dancer and leads the audience in dance routines you can do anywhere.
Poetry as Medicine Café
Recently, a group of Davis Phinney Foundation Ambassadors came together for a Poetry as Medicine workshop with Wayne Gilbert. What began as a one-hour session turned into a monthly poetry jam that has resulted in far more than words on a page. At our first ever Poetry as Medicine Cafe, these poets shared their words with us. Watch to be inspired by what they’ve learned, what they’ve written, and how poetry has become medicine to help them live well with Parkinson’s. You’ll walk away feeling understood, encouraged, and ready to pen something of your own.
Explore More about Complementary Therapies for Parkinson's
Additional Videos
- Physical Therapy and Parkinson’s Panel
- Occupational Therapy and Living Well with Parkinson’s
- Strategies for Addressing Speech and Language Challenges in Parkinson’s
- Managing Parkinson’s with the Mind of a Dancer
- Exercising Your Body and Mind: Tai Chi for Parkinson’s
- How Music Therapy Can Help You Live Well with Parkinson’s
- Speech, Voice, and Parkinson’s
- An Occupational Therapist’s Simple Strategies for Living Well with Parkinson’s
- Everyday Hacks to Live Well with Parkinson’s
- Parkinson’s Speech Therapy: Chat with Confidence
- Occupational Therapy for Parkinson’s
- How the Arts Can Help You Live Well with Parkinson’s
- Dance for Parkinson’s: More Than Just Exercise
- Speech, Voice, and Parkinson’s: Q&A with John Dean
- Art Therapy for People Living with Parkinson’s
- How Laughter Yoga Can Help You Live Well with Parkinson’s
- 2016 Tai Chi Study Funded by the Davis Phinney Foundation Continues to Help People Live Well with Parkinson’s
- Parkinson’s Yoga Therapy for the Newly Diagnosed
- How Important Is Exercise to People Living with Parkinson’s?
- How Can Occupational Therapy Help Me Optimize My Environment for Parkinson’s?
- Move It! Exercise and Physical Activity Are Key to Living Well with Parkinson’s
- Treatments, Tools, and Technology to Help You Live Well with Parkinson’s
- The Value of a Team of Complementary Therapists When You Want to Live Well with Parkinson’s
- 6 Surprising Things a Parkinson’s Physical Therapist Can Help You Improve
- The Equine Gestalt Coaching Method® for People with Parkinson’s
- Using Music to Heal and Live Well with Parkinson’s
- How to Find a Parkinson’s Physical Therapist Near You
- Cannabis and Parkinson’s: What to Know about Medical Marijuana, CBD, and More
- 5 Ways to Get a Jumpstart on Physical Therapy (Even If You Don’t Have Access to a Parkinson’s Physical Therapist)
- How Gardening Can Help You Live Well with Parkinson’s