The sobering and puzzling reality of rehabilitation referrals for Parkinson disease

Historically, the onset of disability in Parkinson disease (PD) has been assumed to begin years after diagnosis. However, careful examination of a variety of physiologic systems and behaviors reveals the presence of measurable disability relative to age-matched neurologically healthy controls early after and in some cases even before diagnosis [1 –3]. For example, objective measurements of ambulatory activity, functional mobility and oromotor function suggest that the majority of patients with early stage PD have deficits in gait, ADL's, voice, speech, and swallowing [3–6].
Source: Parkinsonism and Related Disorders - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research