Parkinson's: Non-drug treatment

Photo of men doing endurance training

Other than medication, the main elements of treatment for Parkinson’s disease are exercises and speech therapy. Psychological support can also be helpful.

Many people with Parkinson’s do exercises or sports – either to prevent muscle stiffness and restrictions in movement, or to improve their ability to move. The aim of these measures (occupational therapy) is to maintain independence in everyday life. If speech becomes more and more difficult, speech therapy may be a good idea. Relaxation exercises and treatments like progressive muscle relaxation, heat therapy and massages are sometimes also used.

The main aim of these treatments is to relieve symptoms that can't be improved enough by taking medication. But movement, relaxation and other exercises can have positive psychological effects too. Getting professional support from a therapist is important.

How can sports and exercise help?

People with Parkinson's move more slowly as the disease progresses. Sometimes they aren't able to walk at all, and they may also have problems with balance and coordination. Because people move less, their muscles gradually become weaker.

Exercises and sports can help to slow down that process. The exact type of exercise is less important than sticking to it over the long term. Examples include stretching, endurance training, muscle activation and relaxation, weight training, balance training, dancing, music therapy, tai chi, qigong, yoga, and brisk walking and jogging.

Studies show that physical exercise can help to improve the ability to move and walk faster. It improves coordination and balance too. That reduces the risk of falls. Doing these forms of exercise can also help you to better manage everyday activities like doing the shopping.

It is possible to get help from a . They can teach you exercises and show you how to do them on your own. In Germany, the costs of this physiotherapy are covered by statutory health insurers. Different exercises will be suitable for different people, depending on their personal preferences and general physical condition: For example, if the disease is in an early stage, more strenuous exercises can be done. The main focus of the treatment depends on the phase of the illness: In early stages, the emphasis is usually on maintaining physical fitness and the ability to move. If the disease is more advanced, the focus turns more to avoiding falls and joint stiffness.

What does occupational therapy involve?

Occupational therapy aims to help maintain independence in everyday life for as long as possible, so that you can manage on your own. That may include adapting your home and workplace to suit your needs. You can work with a therapist to find ways to cope better with the symptoms. Occupational therapy exercises can also improve your gross and fine motor skills. Things like getting dressed, preparing meals and using special aids (walkers or special knives and forks) are practiced. Crafts and creative activities like making things or painting can also be part of occupational therapy. The aims and suitable exercises are decided upon together with the therapist.

What role does speech therapy play?

Lots of people mainly associate Parkinson's with difficulties moving. But the increasing difficulties with speaking are often especially difficult to cope with. Because the muscles in the voice box, tongue and face become less flexible, it causes the voice to sound quieter and more monotonous. Difficulty finding the right words can also become a problem, and it may be harder to understand other people.

In speech therapy you practice speaking louder, more clearly and more precisely. Various loosening, speech and singing exercises can improve your ability to move your facial muscles, show facial expressions and breathe. The type of speech therapy used will depend on your symptoms and personal preferences.

Many people increasingly avoid speaking to others because they feel unsure of themselves and ashamed. So another aim of speech therapy is to gain more confidence in conversation and communicating. Trouble swallowing can also be treated.

When is psychological support considered?

Parkinson’s disease can be very hard to cope with psychologically, particularly in the advanced stages. As it progresses, some people feel quite down or even develop depression that needs to be treated. But even in the early stages it can be difficult to deal with the and the knowledge that the symptoms will get considerably worse over time. That’s why psychological support can be a good idea.

There are also various psychological support options for friends and family, as well as many support groups that can be an important place to turn to.

Which research questions are still unanswered?

Occupational therapy and speech therapy are often used to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's. Many people find them very helpful. But there are few good-quality scientific studies on their effectiveness. Because of this, many important questions have not been answered conclusively. It is currently difficult to say how well the treatments can reach their goals and relieve the symptoms. The available studies don't say which occupational therapy and speech therapy approaches are most effective either.

There has been more research on the effects of regularly doing exercises to improve movement and coordination – at least over short time periods of up to a year. But little is known about the effects of these exercises over longer time periods. For instance, it's not known whether they can delay the progress of the disease.

Allen NE, Canning CG, Almeida LR et al. Interventions for preventing falls in Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022; (6): CD011574.

De Dreu MJ, van der Wilk AS, Poppe E et al. Rehabilitation, exercise therapy and music in patients with Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis of the effects of music-based movement therapy on walking ability, balance and quality of life. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2012; 18 Suppl 1: S114-119.

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Neurologie (DGN). Idiopathisches Parkinson-Syndrom (S3-Leitlinie, in Überarbeitung). AWMF-Registernr.: 030-010. 2016.

Dos Santos Delabary M, Komeroski IG, Monteiro EP et al. Effects of dance practice on functional mobility, motor symptoms and quality of life in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Aging Clin Exp Res 2018; 30(7): 727-735.

Gollan R, Ernst M, Lieker E et al. Effects of Resistance Training on Motor- and Non-Motor Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Parkinsons Dis 2022; 12(6): 1783-1806.

Herd CP, Tomlinson CL, Deane KH et al. Comparison of speech and language therapy techniques for speech problems in Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; (8): CD002814.

Herd CP, Tomlinson CL, Deane KH et al. Speech and language therapy versus placebo or no intervention for speech problems in Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012; (8): CD002812.

Klamroth S, Steib S, Devan S et al. Effects of Exercise Therapy on Postural Instability in Parkinson Disease: A Meta-analysis. J Neurol Phys Ther 2016; 40(1): 3-14.

Mehrholz J, Kugler J, Storch A et al. Treadmill training for patients with Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015; (9): CD007830.

Muñoz-Vigueras N, Prados-Román E, Valenza MC et al. Speech and language therapy treatment on hypokinetic dysarthria in Parkinson disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Rehabil 2021; 35(5): 639-655.

Okada Y, Ohtsuka H, Kamata N et al. Effectiveness of Long-Term Physiotherapy in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Parkinsons Dis 2021; 11(4): 1619-1630.

Shen X, Wong-Yu IS, Mak MK. Effects of Exercise on Falls, Balance, and Gait Ability in Parkinson's Disease: A Meta-analysis. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2016; 30(6): 512-527.

Song R, Grabowska W, Park M et al. The impact of Tai Chi and Qigong mind-body exercises on motor and non-motor function and quality of life in Parkinson's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2017; 41: 3-13.

Suárez-Iglesias D, Santos L, Sanchez-Lastra MA et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on the effects of yoga in people with Parkinson's disease. Disabil Rehabil 2022; 44(21): 6210-6229.

Tomlinson CL, Patel S, Meek C et al. Physiotherapy versus placebo or no intervention in Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013; (9): CD002817.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

Comment on this page

What would you like to share with us?

We welcome any feedback and ideas - either via our form or by gi-kontakt@iqwig.de. We will review, but not publish, your ratings and comments. Your information will of course be treated confidentially. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required fields.

Please note that we do not provide individual advice on matters of health. You can read about where to find help and support in Germany in our information “How can I find self-help groups and information centers?

Über diese Seite

Updated on March 13, 2023

Next planned update: 2026

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

How we keep you informed

Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter or newsfeed. You can find all of our films online on YouTube.