Assessment and Treatment of Parkinson's for Rehab Professionals

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects neurons in a specific area of the brain called the substantia nigra. The progression of symptoms is often quite different from one person to another due to the diversity of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rated complications from PD as the 14th cause of death in the United States. Although thereis no cure, treatment options can include medications, surgeries, physical, occupational, and/or speech therapy. While Parkinson’s itself is not fatal, disease complications can be serious. The first step to living well with Parkinson’s disease is to understand the nature of thedisease and its progression. As rehabilitation professionals, it is important for us to understand the causes of PD, early signs of PD, and treatment options to address cognitive, voice, and swallowing deficits.

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists

Highlights

• Describe causes and symptoms of Parkinson's disease and how they can affect aspects of diagnosis and treatment within your specific discipline
• Apply knowledge of therapeutic options to address cognitive, voice, and movement deficits when designing functional treatment plans for patients with Parkinson's disease