Parkinson's disease (PD) is defined as a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects the patient's mobility, balance and cognition. Tremor, slowed movements, and rigidity are physical symptoms which contribute to postural and gait abnormalities seen in many PD patients. Other symptoms include loss of balance and restricted range of motion, increasing the risk of falling. Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) is a form of manual treatment provided by osteopathic physicians. This form of treatment aims to help decrease muscle spasms and improve joint range of motion and movement. We are proposing a pilot study to investigate the impact of OMM on balance, motor function, and falling in PD patients. We are also going to screen for serum biomarker changes to investigate the potential effects of OMM. Our research team and institution have experience in providing osteopathic care and physical rehabilitation for PD patients. In this study, balance and motor function will be evaluated for each subject throughout the study period. We will also keep track of the number of falls. Balance will be measured using Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and motor function will be measured using Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). Both tools are non-invasive and clinically proven methods for measuring balance and motor function.
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Number of falls
Timeframe: 10 week period