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Physiotherapy

GC Haarlemmermeer

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Parkinson's disease

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a brain disease in which nerve cells that produce the substance dopamine slowly die, leading to a dopamine deficiency. Dopamine is important for proper control over your movements; without enough of it, symptoms such as shaking (tremor), stiffness, slow movements, and balance problems arise. It is a progressive disease, meaning that symptoms gradually worsen, and in addition to movement problems, it can also impact your mood, thinking, and behavior.

The physiotherapist offers an exercise program for people with Parkinson's disease or Parkinson-like conditions such as Parkinsonism, extrapyramidal disorders, MSA (Multiple System Atrophy), and PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Paralysis).

When you make an appointment with the physiotherapist, you will first have an intake. Because Parkinson's presents different symptoms for every patient, your personal goals will be discussed. Based on this information, a specific program will be drawn up. The aim is to enable you to continue performing existing activities for as long as possible and thereby maintain your independence. The training takes place once a week in a group setting at Health Centre Drie Meren.

A physiotherapist specializing in Parkinson's disease has completed additional training in the field of Parkinson's, with additional knowledge to properly guide the patient in all areas. A Parkinson's physiotherapist is registered nationally with Parkinsonnet and must adhere to multiple guidelines and complete additional annual training to be permitted to treat this category of patients.

Yes, Parkinson's disease is covered without limit by the basic insurance starting from the 21st treatment. However, you pay for the first 20 treatments yourself as a one-off payment, or they are reimbursed by your supplementary insurance, provided you have supplementary insurance for physiotherapy treatments.

Lenka Kerstens

  • Geriatric physiotherapist MSc. with specialization in Partial Arterial Disease, MS, and Parkinson's
  • BIG number: 49918483404
  • Three Lakes
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Merel van Nimwegen

  • Merel van Nimwegen is a pediatric physiotherapist. She specializes in treating children with headaches, sensory processing issues, and psychosomatic complaints. Since 2025, Merel has been working on Fridays at the Paramedical Treatment Center for Headaches to treat children under the age of 14 with headaches. Additionally, she works in Heemstede: www.kinderfysio-heemstede.nl.
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Linda Pronk

  • Physiotherapist specializing in the treatment of jaw complaints, headaches, and dizziness. She is also specialized in edema therapy and psychosomatic physiotherapy.
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Veronique Huisman

  • Manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headache complaints. She specializes in dry needling to complement the treatment of neck and headaches. Additionally, she specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder complaints.
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Tim Jongejans

  • Manual therapist specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headache complaints. Additionally, he is pursuing scientific training at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Sciences).
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Jasper Flick

  • Manual therapist specializing in treating various forms of dizziness, including the most well-known: BPPV. He also treats patients with headaches, spine-related complaints, and sports injuries.
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Dr. René Castien

  • Manual therapist, senior researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and advisor at the Paramedical Treatment Center for Headache. Obtained a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam based on research into the effectiveness of manual therapy for tension headache. René supervises and coordinates the collaboration on scientific research into headache between VU Amsterdam and the Paramedical Treatment Center for Headache.
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Laura de Kam

  • Manual therapist specializing in treating various forms of dizziness, including the most well-known: BPPV. She also treats patients with neck complaints, with and without headaches.
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Lotte de Fockert

  • Manual therapist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with headache complaints. She specializes in dry needling of the neck, jaw, and throat muscles to complement the treatment of headache and orofacial complaints. She also treats people with shoulder complaints.
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Andreas Amons

  • Manual therapist specializing in the treatment of patients with headache complaints. At the Department of General Practice of the Amsterdam UMC, he is conducting doctoral research into the effectiveness of manual therapy for migraine.