By: Stacy Pepitone PT, DPT
We are excited to announce that Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness is now offering Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR) to persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Northern Virginia. We have physical therapy teams at both our Fairfax and Chantilly locations certified as PWR!Moves® Therapists.
What is PWR!Moves®?
PWR!Moves® is a comprehensive neuroplasticity-principled program that integrates the latest research on Parkinson disease and Rehabilitation, Exercise, and Wellness. Dr. Becky Farley created PWR!Moves® as the evolution of her original LSVT BIG® exercise program for the purpose of translating cutting-edge research on exercise and brain change into a care model for people living with PD. It is a PD-specific, neuroplasticity-principled, personalized therapy and exercise program adaptable for PD of any disease severity.
How does PWR!Moves help Parkinson’s disease patients?
The goal behind PWR!Moves® is to help people living with PD remain active and independent for longer. Parkinson’s disease develops in the part of the brain where cells that are supposed to produce dopamine begin to die. Over time, loss of dopamine in the brain leads to tremoring, difficulty walking and other issues with movement. Exercise reinforces dopamine circuits, which can help slows down those symptoms.
Can any patient with Parkinson’s disease participate with a PWR!Moves® physical therapy treatment and home exercise program?
Yes! PWR!Moves® specifically targets “4” skills shown by research to interfere with mobility in people with PD (antigravity extension, weight shifting, axial mobility, and transitional movements). The four skills are antigravity extension, weight shifting, axial mobility and transitional movements. These four positions offer a flexible and functional amplitude-focused exercise approach that targets multiple symptoms, and that allows for adaptation for disease severity. They are performed with large amplitude, high effort, and attention to action in multiple postures. These positions can be adjusted for laying down, seated, or standing. PWR!Moves® is customized on each patient's level of ability and functional goals.
What are the benefits of a PWR!Moves physical therapy treatment and home exercise program?
Scientific research has proven that exercise counteracts inactivity, motor deterioration and other symptoms of Parkinson’s. When people with PD perform certain physical movements, they boost brain neuroplasticity and improve motor symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and bradykinesia, along with non-motor symptoms like anxiety, apathy and sleeplessness. When performed consistently, PWR!Moves® can help people with Parkinson’s continue to complete tasks that typically become more challenging as the disease progresses – things like rolling over in bed, fastening your seatbelt, or bending down to tie your shoes. This type of research-based integrated exercise and wellness programming is necessary to counteract the inactivity, motor deterioration, and symptoms of PD.
How can I begin PWR!Moves® physical therapy at Virginian Rehabilitation and Wellness?
Physical therapists at our Chantilly and Fairfax clinics are certified as PWR! Moves® Therapists. Contact our Chantilly or Fairfax clinics for information on how to schedule an evaluation. At evaluation, your physical therapist will assess your strength, walking, balance, and PD-specific symptom impact on your quality of life. Your physical therapist and you will discuss your goals and develop an individualized treatment plan of care focused on PWR!Moves®.
Source: PWR! Moves -Parkinson Wellness Recovery. https://www.pwr4life.org/moves/. Accessed August 21, 2021.