Claudia (the name has been changed by the editors” ) is one of the ever-increasing number of people suffering from Parkinson's disease at a young age. She is in her mid-30s and is in the middle of her professional life. Claudia is married, they have one child, another is planned. Claudia was diagnosed three years ago. The employer knows about the illness and has set up a home office for her.

Parkinson's Journal: Hello, I am delighted that you are here today to share your experiences with Parkinson's and neurological physiotherapy. First of all, could you explain to the audience what exactly is the job of a physiotherapist?

Claudia: Of course, I like to do that. A physical therapist is a health professional who helps patients improve mobility and function, Pain to reduce and achieve better balance and coordination. This is often done through physical exercises, massages and the use of specialized equipment.

Parkinson's Journal: Thanks for this clarification. You have Parkinson's and are taking neurological physiotherapy. How does the disease affect your everyday life?

Claudia: Parkinson's disease has affected my life in many ways, most notably my ability to walk. Walking used to be an automatic activity for me, but Parkinson's made it slow, erratic, and difficult to initiate. This has made it the leading cause of falls.

Parkinson's Journal: That sounds very challenging. How has physical therapy helped you manage these symptoms?

Claudia: I started neurological physical therapy about a year ago after realizing that just improving strength and flexibility was not significantly improving my balance and stability issues. My physiotherapist and I work hard to restore my ability to walk by developing new neural pathways or repairing damaged ones.

Parkinson's Journal: Can you give us an example of one of the exercises you do?

Claudia: A good example is the Axtmann exercise: I had difficulty coordinating head, eye and body movements while maintaining balance. My physiotherapist "broken down" the exercise into smaller parts until I could do it.

Parkinson's Journal: And how would you like the results of this Therapy summarize?

Claudia: After a year of intensive training, the improvements are clear. My static balance is much better, arm movements while walking are corrected, my stride is longer, and I have stronger core strength and coordination. My gait is much better overall and I have a lower risk of falling.

Parkinson's Journal: These are truly remarkable advances! In your opinion, what does the future hold for you and neurological physiotherapy?

Claudia: Although I am not 'fixed' and Parkinson's is an ongoing challenge, neurological physical therapy has already resulted in a more secure and almost normal gait. With the continuation of the therapy, I hope to achieve further improvements and maintain a high quality of life despite the disease.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and insights with us. It's inspiring to hear how physical therapy can help you deal with the challenges of Parkinson's.

In summary