Massage can be as much a necessity as a luxury. It is often recommended for People with Parkinson’s to relax tight muscles that can cause pain and rigidity. And that is where I have drifted; while I remain fortunate that the progression of my key symptoms has remained slow, I have begun to experience a combination of muscle tightness and atrophy and with them, increased pain.

Our family has long regarded massage as a necessary part of our health regimen. Mr. Twitchy is a long-time user for all sorts of chronic back pain (he calls himself a “massage-wh—“), and regular massage reduced his chronic pain significantly. His regular masseur is married to a masseuse and he urged me to see her regularly, which I did until she retired. And not long after that, I started noticing a significant difference in how I feel. (A little over a year ago Mr. Twitchy kind of stumbled into trying accupunture treatments (a story within a story) which have especially helped reduce pain and tightness that allows him to walk long distances (including 18 holes of golf) for the first time since his back surgery in 2018.)

But as I search for a new masseuse (I am also going to try accupuncture soon), we have also found a new toy: a massage gun. Actually it’s a replacement toy for a 10-year old massage gun that died. Mr. Twitchy, gadget freak that he is, did the shopping and settled on the Theragun Sense. (Theragun is one of the higher-end brands and the Sense is a lighter-weighted version of their more powerful models.) Technology has contributed a lot to the evolving “massage gun” market. Now there are apps that connect your phone through Bluetooth with your massage gun, offering you numerous programs for use on different parts of your body. There are even meditation and sleep programs on the apps.

There are a lot brands and models to choose from. Amazon shows 778 different massage guns! They range in price anywhere from $20-$500, so you should be able to find one that fits your budget. Our Sense is about at the mid-range of the market

and here is another (also highly rated) at the low end:

Many come with different attachments for different types of massage. They are easy to use and I would recommend a cordless one so you can take it anywhere. Even if you don’t experience pain as a PD symptom, it is a good addition to your Parkinson’s Toolbox. Besides, who doesn’t like a good massage, even if it is self-administered?

If any of you have your own stories about massage, accupuncture, physical therapy or anything else that has helped relieve or reduce pain, let us know in the comments.

Try it, you’ll like it!

Have a great day!