PARKINSON'S DISEASE
According to estimates, Parkinson's disease affects about 15,000 people in Switzerland and 4.1 million across the world. It is a common neurodegenerative disease, but its causes are very poorly understood. At this stage there is no remedy against its occurrence and development; however, its symptoms can be successfully combatted.
Symptoms of the disease are: muscular stiffness, slow movement, shaking, difficulty with walking and posture, problems with balance, sleeping and sometimes with memory, speech and swallowing.
Which treatment?
At Clinique Valmont, under the care of eminent neurologist Professor Julien Bogousslavsky, and with daily involvement of specialised physical therapists and occupational therapists, as well as sports coaches guiding appropriate physical activities, speech therapists and neuropsychologists, patients with Parkinson's disease benefit from symptomatic treatments individually adapted to their situation and the severity of their disease, enabling an improvement in the functional impairment and daily quality of life.
Non-medicinal treatments include:
- Maintaining regular physical activity with improved rigidity and movement, techniques to improve flexibility, motor physical therapy, speech therapy, respiratory physiotherapy, work on walking, posture, balance, etc.
Medicinal treatments include:
- L-dopa, dopaminergic agonists, COMT inhibitors, MAOI-B, anticholinergics and amantadine, in particular.
Experience shows that a stay lasting two to three weeks can markedly improve mobility and quality of life for patients with Parkinson's disease. Clinique Valmont also offers out-patient treatments based on the same principle.
