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   Traveling Tips

Updated: Jul 29

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Written by Kristi Riker OTD, OTR/L



How Vacations Can Affect Parkinson’s Disease:

Did you know researchers have found almost half of people with PD experience a decrease in symptoms when on vacation? Study participants reported improvements in both motor symptoms (tremor, stiffness, pain) and nonmotor symptoms (decreased stress, improved sleep, decreased fatigue) on vacation. Maybe it’s time to plan a trip! But make sure to plan ahead for potential barriers.


Traveling Barriers and Tips

What is the hardest part of traveling? Sitting for extended periods? Taking meds on time? Sticking to sleep routines? There are too many reasons to count! SO much goes into planning for travel. Here are some fun tips to help alleviate the stress.


Immobility and Stiffness/Pain: 

  • On road trips, plan to stop every 1-2 hours for walking/stretching breaks

  • Complete small exercises in your seat: 20 shoulder rolls, 20 ankle pumps, 15 ankle circles, 15 knee lifts (complete each of these on each side of body, once per hour)

  • Wear compression socks to reduce swelling

  • Lumbar support for back or orthopedic seat pad for pressure relief



Limited Bathroom access: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common non-motor symptoms but are often overlooked in Parkinson's disease (PD). Urinary incontinence may make the idea of long car rides, plane flights, or bus trips pretty daunting.

  • Avoid bladder irritants such as caffeine or spicy foods

  • Map out bathroom stops ahead of time for road trips

  • Bring incontinence supplies just in case

  • Practice pelvic floor exercises to improve bladder control (come to Kristi in the gym if you would like some guidance on these exercises)


Difficulty getting in/out of car: 

  • To get out of the car, move the seat all the way back to create space

  • Reclining the seat slightly may help with pivoting

  • A firmer seat cushion will make it easier to transfer

  • Scoot forward to edge of seat, swing both legs out together, use a rocking motion to stand

  • Use adaptive equipment:

    • A seat swivel helps if pivoting is too difficult

  • A car cane is a portable handle that inserts into the door latch



Medication timing: Meds are tricky enough to keep up with on the daily, let alone when your routine is thrown out the window during travel.

  • Use a medication alarm/watch to maintain the schedule

  • Pre-sort meds in a travel pill organizer labeled by time of day

  • Keep meds in a cool, accessible place (not packed away)

  • Bring extra doses in case of delays

  • If you travel often and this is something you really struggle with, consider talking to your doctor about the possibility of a med pump to lessen the mental load


Disrupted rest routines: Travel can completely throw off sleep routines and be even more troubling when paired with sleep disorders

  • Do your best to stick to your regular wake/rest times even when travelling

  • Avoid overbooking daytime adventures and build downtime into the itinerary

  • Plan ahead to accommodate sleep disorders 

    • Sleep breathing disorder? Think about oxygen levels if you are traveling to altitude. If you use a CPAP, consider getting a smaller, portable machine

    • REM sleep behavior disorder? Take measures to ensure safety of new sleeping environments (move objects or furniture that may cause injuries during dream enactment)

    • Daytime sleepiness? Light therapy in the mornings may help!


Stress & Anxiety During Travel: Studies have found that 25% percent of people with PD have anxiety, which may include panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social phobia. If you deal with one or multiple types of anxiety, traveling can be MUCH more intimidating.

  • Plan the route and lodging in advance to reduce uncertainty

  • Use GPS apps with real-time traffic updates to avoid surprises

  • Bring familiar comfort items (music, snacks, pillow)

  • Practice deep breathing or mindfulness exercises while riding

  • To avoid becoming over-stimulated by the environment, bring noise cancelling headphones and an eye mask to use when possible



Lastly, do you best while traveling to join Bridges for Parkinson’s VIRTUAL CLASSES and keep up with your exercise. "Motivation gets you started. Habit keeps you going." – Jim Ryun


Happy Travels!





Resources:

Janssen Daalen JM, Hubbers J, Sharifi Bonab M, Mathur S, Thijssen DHJ, Bloem BR, Meinders MJ. How Vacations Affect Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2022 Nov 2;10(1):151-153. doi: 10.1002/mdc3.13597. PMID: 36698995; PMCID: PMC9847288.


Stefani, A., Högl, B. Sleep in Parkinson’s disease. Neuropsychopharmacol. 45, 121–128 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0448-y



Front. Aging Neurosci., 11 September 2022, Sec. Parkinson’s Disease and Aging-related Movement Disorders Volume 14 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.977572


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