Active Isolated Stretching for parkinson patients Article

Active Isolated Stretching for parkinson patients - Article Example Many patients have found complementary therapies as beneficial to them. Active Isolated stretching- AIS, therapy has proven effective in treatment of Parkinson’s disease. AIS revolves around the physiological principles of specific muscle lengthening, lengthening of the deep and superficial fascia and increased circulation of oxygen and blood to the tissues. The therapy allows the body to prepare for daily activity as well as repair itself. The AIS technique incorporates holding each stretched tissue for two seconds (Boelen 37). This assists the stretched tissue to avoid the stretch reflex. In AIS, the agonist muscle always does the work and this allows for the antagonist muscle to lengthen. In relation to Parkinson’s disease, the patients get to re-educate their neural pathways and muscles because of the active component in AIS. Repeated AIS allows the patient’s range of movement to become improved as well as strengthening their muscle tissues. AIS is a revered technique that assists to improve posture, restore body alignments, help eliminate pain and abnormal curvatures such as Kyphosis and scoliosis. Everyone can benefit from AIS. AIS is a superior therapy in dealing with flexibility problems because it has no age cap or many contraindication limits. AIS has proved to be a popular method of stretching employed by present day athletes, professionals, personal or athletic trainers, and massage therapists. The technique has proved effective in treating autoimmune and neurological conditions (Fatima & Lima 11). Autoimmune conditions treated by the technique include lupus, scleroderma, and fibromyalgia. Neurological conditions treated by the technique include post-polio, stroke, Lou Gehrig’s disease, and incomplete spinal cord. As a practitioner, I would employ the use of AIS therapy for patients with Parkinson’s disease. AIS offers a preventive approach towards treating patients with Parkinson’s. Daily exercise is highly emphasized for