From the Popular Press: What Your Patients are Reading:

Patients with Parkinson’s disease, a neurological disorder, exhibit symptoms such as tremors, rigidity in the joints, balance problems, and slowed movement. Although previously little attention has been paid to bone and joint health problems in Parkinson’s patients, the symptoms of the disorder can lead to reduced bone mass and a greater risk of falls, causing bone fractures and joint injuries. People with Parkinson’s disease tend to walk and move less than their contemporaries, and also typically spend less time outdoors in the sunshine, limiting their intake of vitamin D. Parkinson’s patients can offset this by taking calcium and vitamin D supplements, to help protect their bone mass. Physical therapy may also be useful to exercise the joints. For those patients who must undergo orthopedic surgery, their recovery may be hampered by the tremors caused by the disorder. Partnering with both a physical therapist and a neurologist may aid recovery. Educating Parkinson’s patients about possible bone and joint health issues may help prevent such problems from occurring, or at least limit their impact.

Read the full text of the article