Parkinson’s disease patients can find managing tremors and pain difficult, but researchers hope to develop an easy, non-invasive solution with vibration therapy.
Since neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot noticed that long carriage rides helped his patients’ tremors subside, he developed a vibrating chair in the 19th century.
Researchers from Stanford University have since created gloves that offer coordinated interventions to reset oscillatory patterns in Parkinson disease (PD) patients’ brains.
Tremors
Tremors are one of the hallmark symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. From mild trembling to uncontrollable shaking, tremors can range from subtle to uncontrollable and can cause pain, stiffness and imbalance – as well as difficulty walking, talking or even breathing.
Vibration therapy has proven its efficacy in helping reduce Parkinson’s tremors. It may even be more effective than medications, requiring less visits to the doctor, less money spent and reduced cost overall. Vibrating gloves, masks and braces all serve to provide effective vibration therapy treatments; while there may not be a complete cure available yet these devices can significantly enhance quality of life for those living with this disorder.
Florida State University College of Medicine researchers recently conducted a study which revealed how vibration therapy helped reduce tremors for those living with Parkinson’s disease. Regular use of small braces and wraps that gently massaged skin with vibration improved overall movement in PD patients and was also found to reduce pain while increasing dexterity for those suffering tremors.
Stanford University neuroscientist Peter Tass has devised a pair of gloves designed to be worn for long hours daily and which provide vibro-tactile stimulus directly to fingers, which then communicate directly with the sensory cortex of the brain. Tass has been working on coordinated reset stimulation, a method designed to alter abnormal neuronal activity caused by Parkinson’s Disease patients; his team discovered that using vibro-tactile stimulation — known as vibro-tactile stimulation in technical terms — reset neurons and thus alleviate its symptoms and alleviate its symptoms.
Tass’s lab is in the preliminary stages of clinical trials. To effectively measure its effects, a well-powered study with a placebo group is necessary to validate his new technology. A thorough assessment must take place so as to determine which of four Parkinson’s symptoms the treatment improves on and for how long. Furthermore, studies must take into account a possible placebo effect; otherwise known as “positive responses from unexpected sources such as patient beliefs that this device will work.
Rigidity
Brain cells that produce dopamine can break down, leading to movement slowdown and becoming rigid. Drugs mimicking dopamine may help with controlling tremors but cannot cure Parkinson’s disease itself. When medications don’t help control tremors and stiffness, doctors can perform deep brain stimulation through surgery in order to target abnormal patterns; however, this procedure carries risks of depression and behavioral changes as a side effect.
Researchers are exploring new ways to treat symptoms associated with a condition affecting approximately 500,000 people in the US, known as multiple sclerosis. Their aim is to replace damaged nerve cells with healthy ones – but finding such replacements has proven challenging as scientists were not previously capable of growing such brain cells for this purpose.
Scientists are investigating vibration therapy as an alternative approach to treating this condition, using gloves that deliver vibrations directly to fingertips and hands – this appears to reset any abnormal rhythms that lead to symptoms according to Stanford Medicine Magazine.
Although the study on gloves was small, researchers discovered that it provided relief from tremors, stiffness, walking issues and balance issues associated with MS. Furthermore, patients reported wearing them also helped relieve mood swings and behavior changes associated with MS.
Researchers are exploring vibration therapy as a possible treatment option for Parkinson’s disease; however, results have yet to be demonstrated through large-scale trials. As such, healthcare professionals recommend consulting with one in order to select an ideal type of vibration therapy treatment plan for Parkinson’s.
Vibration therapies may only go so far in alleviating Parkinson’s symptoms; for optimal results, diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables as well as omega-3 fatty acids found in fish is also beneficial to this condition. A good sleep regimen is also crucial; fatigue and drowsiness are common Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease so those prone to insomnia should aim to sleep at a consistent time every night without caffeinated beverages such as coffee before going to sleep.
Balance
Balance is the ability to manage opposing forces. Tightrope walkers rely on balance to stay centered as they walk across an unstiffened rope high above. Physical equilibrium is important, but emotional and health balance should also be prioritized for Parkinson’s disease patients. Exercising regularly and eating healthy are effective in slowing progression; vibration therapy may provide additional relief from tremors and stiffness.
Stanford researcher Peter Tass has created gloves that emit vibrations designed to reset misfiring nerves in Parkinson’s Disease patients and allow them to relearn normal movements again, according to Stanford Medicine magazine.
Kanwar Bhutani experienced amazing transformation after using these gloves during a trial run; from barely being able to move his arm at all to CrossFit and dancing after just four hours of daily wear time with them on his arm – not alone either; all 20 participants of the study experienced some positive change as a result of using them.
