I have an appointment with the physiotherapist today, and I’m hopeful that they will be able to help me address the muscular weakness in my legs, which had been giving me much caused for concern in recent months. I had read about forced exercise (using a powered cycle) as therapy to strengthen leg muscles, and when I mentioned this to my Parkinson’s nurse she told me that the physiotherapy department had the necessary equipment, and that she would refer me for a course of treatment. I arrived at the North Walsham Cottage Hospital in plenty of time, was greeted by one of the physiotherapists and shown into an office, where she questioned me about my Parkinson’s symptoms and made me demonstrate various muscle movements. After she had finished making notes, I mentioned forced exercise. She looked at me blankly and told me she wasn’t sure what I meant, so I explained about powered cycles and how they were being utilised (to great benefit) to build leg muscle and improve motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s. She told me that they did have some powered cycles, but she wasn’t sure that they would be suitable for the application that I had described, so I promised to email her some links to more information on the internet so that she could read some more on the subject – I find it slightly disturbing that a physiotherapist (and a Parkinson’s nurse) are completely unaware of this treatment, given that they are dealing with people with Parkinson’s all the time (particularly the Parkinson’s nurse).
yes well Ian i moved to a new area three years ago and signed up with a different GP who unfortunately did not know what DBS was so i had to educate him and demonstrate what the effect was if i turned them off ( i have two) he was amazed and called a colleague in to see it . So what you found is not really surprising to me.