How Singing Can Ease Symptoms of Parkinson's

Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disease that effects the brain. Cells in a certain part of the brain stop working properly and are lost over time. These brain cells manufacture a vital chemical called dopamine. The brain uses dopamine to send messages to control movement. Everything from everyday things walking, talking, writing and even smiling. Eventually the time comes when the brain cannot keep the body moving properly. This is when the symptoms start to set in. At first, there are minute details and tells of the symptoms, like handwriting becoming smaller, but then symptoms continue and more recognizable symptoms, like slowness, stiffness, and tremors. Scientists do not understand why cells that produce dopamine seem to be under attack by Parkinson’s. As of right now, there is no cure, but it is being worked on. 

Parkinson’s disease is known to be a neurodegenerative form of medical condition which affects the brain of the individual. Currently there is no cure for Parkinson’s but there are research and studies being carried out to identify and come up with a cure for this disease. Singing as we all would agree has led to an improvement in the quality of the life of the individual especially those who are suffering from Parkinson’s.

Singing is said to help in strengthening the muscles which in turn would help to keep away one of the signs that is known to lead to death of the patient suffering from Parkinson’s which is the inability to swallow. This is known to happen due to weakening of the muscles present in the mouth and the throat. By delaying this particular detoriation would not only help to make the life of the patient a bit easier but it would also make them live longer life.

A group of experts created a music therapy class for enabling such patients to exercise their muscles which often get stiff as the disease progresses. The main reason for these music classes is to strengthen the key muscles present in the mouth and the throat which in turn would help the patients to deal with the dangerous outcome of choking on their food.

While few people may feel shy when it comes to singing but the therapist or the doctors tend to encourage these patients to participate and keep their anxieties away since it is not about who can sing well but instead it is mainly on working out those muscles which are majorly involved in the process of swallowing as well as respiratory control so as to help in making them better hence protecting the patients from any complications arising due to swallowing.

There have been positive reviews from this music therapy class wherein volunteers who participated in such class have mentioned that singing has helped them not just in association with their throat or swallowing issue but it has also helped them in projecting of their voice which is one of those skills that tends to fade away as the medical condition progresses and becomes worse. Singing in class is much better than home since the course takes them through certain type of exercises and also how to get them done.

It can be compared to an exercises class wherein supervision and guidance is required. As similar to a Boot camp wherein a teacher helps the peers from getting it done the same is applicable for these singing classes as well. There are a lot of vocal exercises carried out which mainly focuses on those muscles.

There is also guidance provided on how to proper breath, posture and how to use those muscles which are involved in the vocal chords wherein they are required to in detail coordinate and build up a strong muscle activity. It helps to measure the muscle strength and keep a track on the symptoms before and after the class is over.