“Exercises is more than just fitness; it is a physiological tool in the fight against Parkinson disease” -Becky Farley, PhD, MS, PT, CEO/Founder of Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR)
All Care has therapists certified in the PWR program. PWR certified physical and occupational therapists have completed workshops where they learn to develop and prescribe comprehensive, individualized programming to address multiple symptoms and personalized goals for all levels of Parkinson’s disease severity, fitness and co-morbidities. They offer focused education, problem solving, and coaching to empower and overcome barriers associated with inactivity and Parkinson’s disease.
In 2003 Dr. Farley created the first amplitude-focused physical and occupational therapy approach for individuals with PD called LSVT BIG. She has also pioneered a more flexible PD-specific exercise approach that incorporates high effort training of larger and faster functional movements called PWR!Moves. The Basic4 PWR! Moves targets skills shown by research to become impaired in PD and that interfere with everyday mobility:
Antigravity extension (PWR!UP)
Weight shifting (PWR!ROCK)
Axial mobility (PWR!TWIST)
Transitions (PWR!STEP)
These moves form the foundation for a standalone exercise program and allow for the therapist to work on task-specific training routines to improve mobility, increase physical capacity, or reduce freezing. The goal of utilizing PWR! moves is to implement neuroplasticity-principled programming shown by research to reduce symptoms, restore function, improve quality of life, with promise to slow disease progression.
For more information on the benefits of PWR and resources visit: www.pwr4life.org Or call our office to work with a PWR! certified therapist.
Resources:
PWR! Parkinson Wellness Recovery. (2023. January 3). About PWR!. https://www.pwr4life.org/about/
Farley BG, Fox CM,RamigLO, McFarland DH. Intensive amplitude-specific therapeutic approaches for Parkinsons disease: Toward a neuroplasticity-principled rehabilitation model.TopGeriatrRehabil. 2008;24(2):99-114. doi:10.1097/01.TGR.0000318898.87690.0d