Hydrotherapy

[Birdie04]

Hi. Just wondered has anyone used hydrotherapy as a movement enhancer or to help with pain. My husbands mobility is pretty good at the moment and was thinking of this. He also enjoys swimming. Just wondered if anyone has tried this and seen/felt any benefits from it?

[DaffodilPrimerose]

Dear Birdie04We tried once with my PSP person who had good mobility at the time. It was too dangerous with the PSP tendency for sudden freezing so never attempted again.

[Millidog]

Hi at the early stages we joined the gym abd husband did the scheme exercise by prescription which gave discounted sessions. He got some guided exercises on appropriate equipment, such as a recline bike and some arm and leg pushes which at that time and for about 6 months was useful. It certainly helped with both movement, muscle tone for arms, legs and shoulders and motivation. We avoided the pool because of the same issues - balance, and freezing and the walking in down steps...they were only shallow pool steps but were disorientating. We sadly had to stop the gym exercise as falls became much more frequent. Husband now does the PSPA sponsored Neuro Heroes zoom exercise programme which I woukd highly recommend.

[Bergenser]

I don't have experience of hydrotherapy for PSP - my husband loved swimming and being in the pool and continued to enjoy that for 2 years after his PSP diagnosis but it became unsafe as his mobility deteriorated. On the other hand, water aerobics was very successful for my mother who had a different neurological condition, Multiple Sclerosis - she had both mobility benefits, maintained muscle tone, and effective pain relief from aerobic exercise in a heated pool.

I would suggest you try - while being vigilant with fall prevention in changing rooms, showers and pool side!

Best wishes 🌻🤗

[Birdie04 in reply to Bergenser]

Thank you for this. I would be going to a hydro therapist so it will be observed by a professional. My husband has CBD and mobility is good except the left hand, but we're also doing physio through the parkinsons therapist. Also I like the sound of the zoom exercise class, my husband does a few exercises himself with hand weights and enjoys this. Will definitely look into this. Best wishes 😊🌷

[Sharsuk]

Dear Birdie04

My husband's mobility is limited. He loves the aquatherapy sessions. A dedicated physiotherapist is alloted to each patient. He feels good after coming home and looks forward to the next session. I'm not sure if there is any improvement in movement but his mood sure has uplifted.

[Sawa]

Hi Birdie,

My hubby did hydrotherapy with a biokineticist for a couple of years. He absolutely loved it. Not only did it help with (safe) strength and mobility but (as he went 2x per week), the second session became a relax session for him. The bio had little blow up floaties for his head, arms and legs, and he got to float in the warm water while she gently stretched him. He was always much more relaxed after these sessions and I think he slept better.

I will stress that these were 1-on-1 sessions and we briefed the bio very well on his condition, and she did a lot of reading up on her own, so it was very safe. She was also able to adjust the sessions based on his changing abilities.

I think it's definitely worth a try.

Sawa

[Birdie04 in reply to Sawa]

Thankyou, we will be giving it ago for certain. Anything to keep up the mobility and fitness.Thank you for the sound advice

Best wishes

😊🌷

[Birdbag]

yes one on one hydro sessions are excellent for my husband. His spasticity is eased and it is wonderful to see him hold himself straight, something he can’t do on land. He is currently relearning steps in the pool. Strongly recommend you try.

Pool

[Birdie04 in reply to Birdbag]

This is wonderful, thankyou so much for the advice, will definitely be giving it a try. So glad that husband is doing so well with it too.Best wishes

🌷😊

[LuisRodicioRodicio]

Hi Birdie04!!

This is our information and experiences regarding the benefits of physical activity in patients with PSP-type diseases:

First: If physicians agree that there is suspicion of a Parkinson disease (PD) or Parkinson-like neurological disease (PSP-RS (Richarson-Steele-Olszewski), PSP-CBD, PSP-P, MSA, etc.), then I suggest to start an intensive and systematic exercise program including walking, up and down stairs, speech therapy, etc. as soon as possible, trying to slow down eventual muscle dysfunction. The idea is that the more one uses their muscles the longer they are able to use them. PSP usually affects more on one side of the body than on the other. Logically the disease will progress and the type of gymnastic exercises should adapt and necessarily reduce its intensity.

One easy activity is to go to the pool and walk back and forth across the shallow end of the pool - forwards, backwards, sideways. It really help for a while. It won't work forever, but it'll work for a while. To have one to one hydrotherapy with a neuro-physiotherapist may be a good idea.

Dosco makes this contribution: “My wife diagnosed with PSP remained cognitively intact until the end. It was the inability to speak, eat, drink , move her eyes, and creeping paralysis, loss of balance that was progressively affected. We did ensure she remained as physically active as she could under the guidance of physiotherapists. Initially, she swam, walked, lifted weights and did strength training. She remained remarkable strong until she died. Her heart gave out in the end as she could no longer eat or drink water. My advice is to keep the patient as active as you can under the guidance of physiotherapists and knowledgeable trainers to give the patient some quality of life.”

Hoping that this information can be useful to you, I send you my solidarity and my wishes that the path with PSP is manageable and tolerable.

Luis