Introduction: Parkinson's disease affects individuals around the world. It is a slowly
progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of dopamine neurons
within the basal ganglia. The main feature is degradation of dopamine neurons in the
compact black substance, resulting in a lack of dopamine in the brain. The clinical picture
of Parkinson's disease is akinetic-rigid syndrome, the main signs are tremor, rigidity,
bradykinesis and imbalance. All of these symptoms affect quality of life of Parkinson's
disease patients. Purpose: What is the role of occupational therapist in the rehabilitation
process in patients with Parkinson's disease, which assessment instruments are used in
occupational therapy, which devices are advised for quality living and what is the
effectiveness of occupational therapy treatment in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Methods: A qualitative research approach with literature review was used. Criteria for
inclusion were: publication between 2007 and 2019, availability of the full text, articles
published in Slovene or English in online bibliographic databases, inclusion of
occupational therapy or occupational therapy in Parkinson's disease, effectiveness of
occupational therapy, assessment instruments and therapeutic aids for patients with
Parkinson’s disease. The PRISMA diagram was used for display of our method. Results:
Several studies have been done on the effectiveness of occupational therapy in Parkinson's
disease, and the results differ. Occupational therapy helps to improve and facilitate the
implementation of the activities of patients with Parkinson's disease and contributes to a
better and more satisfied life. Regular physical activity improves physical and functional
performance. Activities focused on walking, joint mobility, and muscle strength reduce the
number of falls. Aerobic activities, on the other hand, improve exercise and quality of life
in patients with Parkinson's disease. Discussion and conclusion: A patients with
Parkinson's disease should be referred to occupational therapy at an early stage of the
disease, as difficulties in performing daily activities appear at the beginning of the disease.
For long-term independent living of patients with Parkinson's disease, it is essential to
maintain motor skills and manual dexterity. The task of the occupational therapist is to
encourage patients to regular physical activity, help them find appropriate activity
according to their wishes and abilities, and advise them on the selection and use of various
therapeutic aids and adaptations to maintain the quality of life in performing daily
activities.
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