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Parkinson's shows itself first in the small things, a button that is hard to fasten, a first step that won't come, handwriting that shrinks. On this page we have put together a straightforward explanation of what happens in the body, why exercise has become one of the most researched tools in the disease, and where Galileo therapy fits into the process.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disease in which nerve cells in a brain region called the substantia nigra gradually stop functioning. These cells produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a central role in regulating movement.
There is a point here that confuses many families: the problem is not in the muscles and not in strength. A person with Parkinson's can be perfectly strong. What is affected is the control system for movement, and above all the ability to perform automatic movements, the ones we make without thinking about them.
This explains a phenomenon that looks contradictory: the same person who struggles to start walking down a corridor can suddenly climb stairs with relative ease, or walk at a good pace when someone provides an external rhythm. The stair and the rhythm supply an external cue that bypasses the damaged automatic mechanism. This principle underlies a large part of Parkinson's rehabilitation.
Alongside this, a secondary cycle develops that worsens the situation over time, and it does not come from the disease itself: movement decreases, so strength declines, range of motion narrows and posture changes. Less movement leads to less confidence, less confidence leads to even less movement. The important part is that this secondary cycle can genuinely be influenced, and that is exactly what rehabilitation targets.
For years, exercise in Parkinson's was treated as a general health recommendation. That picture has changed. Today, structured exercise is considered one of the most researched subjects in the field, and it appears in treatment guidelines as a core component alongside medication, not as a nice-to-have.
The rationale rests on neuroplasticity, the nervous system's ability to adapt and change its patterns in response to repeated practice. Training at sufficient intensity and with high repetition gives the system exactly the stimulus it needs to preserve and strengthen movement pathways.
From these follow two practical conclusions that recur throughout the literature:
To be explicit: exercise does not cure the disease and does not replace medication or neurological follow-up. It works alongside them.
Parkinson's presents differently in every person, but several challenges keep recurring, and each carries a different meaning for rehabilitation.
This is the central sign of the disease. Movements become slower and smaller, sometimes without the person being aware of it. It is what shrinks handwriting, shortens stride length and weakens the voice.
A feeling of stiffness and resistance to movement, sometimes accompanied by pain, especially in the shoulders and neck. Rigidity narrows range of motion and makes trunk rotation harder, a movement needed in every walk, every rise from a chair and every turn in bed.
The tendency to stoop forward shifts the center of gravity, and the automatic postural reactions that are supposed to steady us when we lose balance grow weaker. Together, these raise the risk of falling, which is why this is one of the central goals of rehabilitation.
A feeling that the feet are glued to the floor, usually at the start of walking, when turning, or when passing through a doorway. It is especially unsettling because it is unpredictable. Here too, external cues, a rhythm or a marking on the floor, help some people.
The sign most identified with the disease, yet often the one that affects daily function less than the slowness and the rigidity. It appears mainly at rest and lessens during intentional movement.
The previous section raised a practical problem: rehabilitation demands high repetition, but when movement itself is slow and difficult, it is very hard to accumulate enough repetitions. This is exactly where this method becomes relevant.
This is not a treatment performed on you while you lie there passively. The method is based on a gentle, controlled movement that mimics the body's natural walking pattern. The nervous system recognizes it and responds with reflexive muscle contractions, dozens of times per second. In practical terms: a large volume of muscle activations within just a few minutes, without the conscious effort of initiating every movement anew, and without loading the joints.
Three stages, at a pace set by your functional ability, not by a one-size-fits-all protocol.
A first appointment reviewing your functional condition, range of motion, balance and medical limitations. In Parkinson's we also review timing relative to your medication, so sessions can be scheduled for the hours when function is best.
The session itself is relatively short and divided into rounds with breaks. Throughout, a physiotherapist stays with you, correcting position and adjusting the intensity in real time.
The load increases gradually according to your actual response. We measure and document so it is possible to see whether there is improvement, rather than relying on feeling alone.
Galileo (made by Novotec Medical, Germany) is the device that invented side-alternating vibration, and the most researched of its kind in the world. Below are findings from studies published in scientific journals on whole-body vibration training in Parkinson's.
A randomized controlled cross-over trial in 68 people with Parkinson's, using whole-body vibration training, found an average improvement of about 17% in motor score (UPDRS), alongside a reduction in rigidity (about 25%) and tremor (about 24%).
NeuroRehabilitation, 2006 · Randomized controlled trial (Haas et al.)A randomized clinical trial in people with Parkinson's found significant improvement in the Timed Up and Go test (TUG, P=0.006) and in the Functional Reach test (P=0.019), two accepted measures of mobility and balance.
Occupational Therapy International, 2021 · Randomized clinical trialA systematic review and meta-analysis examining whole-body vibration training in people with Parkinson's found a positive effect on motor function, along with a recommendation for larger, more controlled follow-up studies.
Brain Impairment (Cambridge) · Systematic review and meta-analysisA meta-analysis of controlled studies found an advantage for whole-body vibration training in improving static balance compared with active control groups, in people with Parkinson's.
Meta-analysis, 2025 · Whole-body vibration training in Parkinson'sThese findings refer to study groups and are not a promise of individual results. Nothing here is a substitute for medical advice or for your medication.
It is not right for everyone, and that is fine. Here is the picture as it is, so you can come to the appointment with the right expectations.
The list of items we review is not an automatic disqualification list, but a set of topics clarified at the assessment appointment, sometimes together with your treating physician. The decision whether to start, and at what intensity, is made individually. In any case, we recommend updating your treating neurologist before starting any new treatment.
Exercise is one of the most researched tools in the disease. Studies show it supports improvement in motor measures such as mobility, balance and muscle strength, not just preservation of the current state. That said, it does not cure the disease and does not replace medication, it works alongside it.
The accepted recommendation today is to start as early as possible, even while function is still good. The rationale is to build a functional reserve and preserve healthy movement patterns before the body develops compensation patterns that are hard to undo. It is not too late to start at a more advanced stage, but earlier is better.
Tremor does not rule out treatment. It is assessed at the initial evaluation together with the rest of your functional condition, and the position and intensity are set accordingly. Some of the studies on whole-body vibration training in Parkinson's also examined its effect on tremor and rigidity.
It is usually better to schedule the session for the hours when function is best, that is, when the medication is at peak effect. This allows working in a more stable position and getting more out of the session. Timing is agreed together at the first appointment.
No. It is one tool within a rehabilitation process and is not a substitute for medication or neurological follow-up. It works alongside physiotherapy and the other treatments prescribed for you, and its purpose is to add a layer of active muscle engagement in a volume that is hard to achieve through conventional exercise.
Yes, in many cases. The treatment can also be given sitting, lying down or in supported standing, and the upper body can be worked using therapy handles. The position is set according to your actual functional ability.
There is no single number, and anyone who quotes one without examining you is simply guessing. Frequency and duration are set according to your functional condition and your actual response. We measure along the way so that the decision whether to continue is based on data rather than feeling alone.
In many cases partial reimbursement is available through supplementary health plans or private insurance, depending on the terms of your policy. We issue a treatment confirmation and receipt for submitting the claim. More about reimbursement
That is exactly why the assessment appointment exists. We will go over your functional condition, tell you honestly whether we think there is value here for you, and if not, we will say so. You can also simply call and ask.