West Coast charity partner Parkinson’s WA yesterday launched a new publication, “Guidelines for Physiotherapy Practice in Caring for People with Parkinson’s Disease”, or the “Physio Manual” as it has become known.
Parkinson’s WA manager Brenda Matthews is delighted with the publication, which will make a considerable difference to the lives of many of those living with Parkinson’s. Three years in the making, the guidelines were initiated by the research committee of Parkinson’s WA and written by Liz Bell, Vivian Lee and Babette Lynch – all physiotherapists with many years of experience in managing the disease.
As the second most common degenerative neurological condition in Australia after Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease affects over 6,000 Western Australians and around one in seven of those is under the age of 40 and in the prime of their life.
West Coast physiotherapist Paul Tucker recognised the importance of physiotherapy in easing the common symptoms of Parkinson’s such as tremors, stiffness, slowness of movement and poor balance.
“Though I work in a ‘high profile’ industry where the benefits of physiotherapy are well publicised, our profession crosses into many areas of the community,” Tucker explained.
“Physio is just as important for the maintenance of independency for people with neurological conditions as it is for the elite sports person to maintain peak performance, if not more so.
“Whilst Wirra would argue that physio changed his life when we were able to get him fit to play in last year’s grand final after he tore his hammy two weeks before the big day, physiotherapists who work in the field with conditions such as Parkinson’s can have a much more profound effect on the people they treat.”
The West Coast Eagles are proud to be partnering Parkinson’s WA, through the United Way Sports Charity Program, and we hope we can help to raise the profile of the wonderful work this organisation does in assisting people living with Parkinson’s and those that care for them. To find out more or to order a copy of the guidelines please call Parkinson’s WA on (08) 9346 7373 or visit their website http://www.parkinsonswa.org.au/.
