Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s, affecting 1% of the population over age 60 and is more common in men. The global prevalence of Parkinson’s has risen 155% since 1990, largely due to an increasingly aged population.

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain, which controls movement. This leads to motor symptoms like tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability. Other symptoms include cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, and problems controlling non-voluntary bodily functions like heart rate, urination, and body temperature.

Early warning signs of PD include:

• Tremors in the hands, arms, or legs

• Difficulty with balance and coordination

• Insomnia

• Reduced facial expressiveness

• Loss of smell

• Depression or anxiety

• Muscle stiffness

• Stooping or hunching over

• Changes in handwriting

• Dizziness or fainting

If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms, consult a healthcare professional quickly. Early diagnosis and treatment preserve long-term quality of life for individuals suffering from PD. Though the cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, genetic mutations and environmental factors, like exposure to chemicals or a history of traumatic brain injuries, contribute to its development.

Treatment Avenues for Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s is not curable, and most treatments focus on reducing symptoms and maintaining movement independence. Interventions are typically pharmacology-based and focus on the production, breakdown, and sensitivity of neurons to dopamine.

In the case of PD, dopamine production is limited due to the breakdown of the neurons that produce it. Dopamine has tons of uses in the body, from movement and motor control to attention and memory, as well as mood and emotion regulation.

• The most common prescription used to treat Parkinson’s is Levodopa or Carbidopa, which provides the body with L-dopa, the precursor to dopamine. This medication can cross the blood-brain barrier to convert to dopamine in the central nervous system, helping the most with speed and regulation of movement.

• Another common medication is Pramipexole or Ropinirole, which mimics the function of dopamine and is sometimes used together with an L-dopa medication to reduce side effects.

• MAO-B and COMT inhibitors are medications that slow down the breakdown of dopamine so it stays present in your brain for longer, which helps attenuate the slowed production. They are most often used to control early or mild PD symptoms or in conjunction with Levodopa.

• Anticholinergics are mostly used to treat tremors and muscle spasms in the early stages of PD by altering the balance between dopamine and acetylcholine. They are typically not used on older patients due to the potential for cognitive side effects.

Beyond medications to treat Parkinson’s, novel treatments like deep brain stimulation, neuron regeneration, and gene therapy are being explored but are not yet widely used. Functional rehabilitation is another tool that significantly improves quality of life, and studies show that disease progression is significantly lower in patients who combine drug and rehabilitation therapies compared to a drug-only approach.

The Role of Rehabilitation in Parkinson’s Treatment

While pharmacological therapies remain central to managing the motor symptoms of PD, they often fall short in addressing non-motor symptoms and maintaining long-term functional independence. As the disease progresses, patients may experience diminished response to medication, increased risk of falls, and reduced quality of life.

For this reason, rehabilitation is the perfect complement to drug therapy, targeting a broader spectrum of symptoms through physical, cognitive, and psychosocial support. Evidence increasingly shows that individualized, multidisciplinary rehabilitation can significantly improve motor function, help patients maintain independence, and stabilize or even improve quality of life outcomes.

Parkinson’s Rehabilitation with Reunion

Parkinson’s disease impacts movement, speech, cognition, and independence. Our specialized Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation Program delivers evidence-based, stage-specific care to maximize function, reduce complications, and enhance quality of life. Unlike outpatient or home-based care, our inpatient acute rehabilitation model offers intensive, coordinated therapy and 24/7 medical oversight.

Our program is designed around five core objectives:

• Improve mobility, gait, and postural control using advanced techniques such as LSVT BIG.

• Strengthen speech, voice, and swallowing with LSVT LOUD and compensatory strategies.

• Address muscle rigidity and slowness with disease-specific PT and exercise protocols.

• Support cognition and mental well-being through cognitive therapy and psychosocial care.

• Empower patients and caregivers with education and disease self-management planning.

Inpatient rehabilitation provides a level of intensity and coordination that cannot be matched in outpatient or home settings. Our team works together to address the full range of PD symptoms, including less visible but highly impactful issues such as neurogenic bowel and bladder dysfunction, pulmonary concerns like secretion management and supplemental oxygen needs, swallowing difficulties, and cognitive impairments.

The result is a comprehensive treatment experience that not only improves mobility and self-care but also enhances communication, safety, and long-term quality of life. Patients are evaluated and placed in one of three programs based on the progression of the disease.

Stage 1: Early Parkinson’s Disease

In the early stages of Parkinson’s, a person may still be fairly active but start to notice smaller changes—like slower movements, soft speech, or stiffness. This is the best time to start rehab.

We use a specialized therapy called LSVT BIG, which focuses on helping people move more confidently and with bigger, more natural motions like swinging your arms while walking or lifting your feet high enough to clear a step. It’s proven to help improve walking speed, balance, and everyday tasks like getting up from a chair.

For speech, we use LSVT LOUD, a program designed to help people speak louder and more clearly.

Our therapists also begin teaching easy routines to keep muscles flexible, show how to prevent falls, and help patients start healthy habits early. Nurses support bowel and bladder function, sleep, and medication timing—all things that make a big difference in daily life.

Stage 2: Moderate Parkinson’s Disease

As Parkinson’s becomes more noticeable, people may have more trouble with walking, balance, speaking clearly, or safely eating and drinking. Our goal at this stage is to keep people as independent as possible while giving them tools and support to stay safe and active.

Therapists may introduce mobility aids (like rolling walkers) and show patients and caregivers how to use them properly. Speech therapists work on clearer speech and safer swallowing mechanics and may recommend small changes like modifying food textures or using specific swallowing techniques.

For people who have trouble with memory or focus, our team offers simple cognitive exercises and routines that help with things like managing medications or organizing daily tasks. Our nursing team also teaches techniques for managing bladder and bowel changes, and works with families to adjust care as needed.

We also begin checking for breathing or coughing issues that can lead to pneumonia, and introduce equipment like breathing exercises or suction tools if needed. At this stage, caregiver education becomes essential, so we make sure families feel confident helping with things like mobility, daily routines, and medication safety at home.

Stage 3: Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

In the later stages of Parkinson’s, the focus shifts from maintaining independence to maximizing comfort, safety, and dignity. People may be fully dependent on others for care, but that doesn’t mean they stop benefiting from rehabilitation.

We continue therapy to help prevent complications like bedsores, choking, and lung infections. We adjust exercises to fit what each person can do, even if it’s something as simple as sitting up safely or improving posture to breathe better.

We introduce special communication tools if speech becomes difficult, like tablets with speech apps or eye-controlled devices that let patients still express themselves.

Breathing support may include cough-assist machines, suction devices, or oxygen therapy. Our therapists and nurses teach families how to use these tools so they can care for their loved ones at home with confidence.

We also help families make plans for long-term care, including palliative support when needed. Our goal is to support both the patient and the caregiver through every stage with kindness, skill, and compassion.

The Reunion Difference

What sets Reunion apart isn’t just what we do—it’s how we do it. Our Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation Program goes beyond traditional rehab to deliver advanced, disease-specific care focused on helping people live better at every stage.

We understand that Parkinson’s affects how a person moves, communicates, eats, breathes, and thinks. That’s why our approach is whole-person focused, supporting not only the physical symptoms but also emotional health, nutrition, sleep, respiratory needs, and more.

But just as importantly, we recognize that caregivers are part of the care team. We include families every step of the way: teaching hands-on skills, helping set up the home environment, and creating realistic care plans that make it possible for patients to go home safely and as soon as possible. Our team works closely with each patient and caregiver to reduce the risk of complications, avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions, and give everyone the confidence they need to succeed after discharge.

We believe that the best outcomes come from combining the most advanced therapies available with compassionate, personalized support, so every patient leaves our care stronger, safer, and more prepared for what comes next. Whether someone is newly diagnosed or in the final stages of the disease, we help them find the best possible quality of life, for as long as possible.

Contact us to learn more about our Parkinson’s Disease Rehabilitation Program.