Allied Services therapists receive specialized training in Parkinson’s care

10 staff members from Allied Services Integrated Health System were among a group of healthcare professionals from New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania who attended a 2-day conference on innovative Parkinson’s disease care. The conference delivered by Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery was hosted at Heinz Rehab Hospital in Wilkes-Barre recently. Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!) is a dynamic, exercised-based approach to treatment developed in Tuscon, Arizona by Becky Farley, PhD, MS, PT. PWR! advocates for exercise as the first line of defense for Parkinson’s patients.

Participants in the conference received training in essential functional exercises to target the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as rigidity and problems with coordination. Allied Services physical therapy staff enrolled in the conference learned about the implementation and scaling of these dynamic movements depending on the severity of the disease and therapy setting. They also received training in the Exercise4BrainChange® framework applied to PWR!Moves® which allows for a comprehensive PD-specific approach that can target the multiple motor/sensory/cognitive/emotional symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

To learn about therapeutic approaches to Parkinson’s care at Allied Services including PWR! visit alliedservices.org or call 570-348-1360.

Left to right: Pam Ceol, PTA, Heinz Rehab Center; Cheryl Kokinda, PT, Heinz Rehab Aquatic Program; Jared Bonczek, PTA, Heinz Rehab Center; Diane Dixon, PTA; Heinz Rehab Aquatic Program; Kristina Dorkoski, PT, DPT, NCS, PYT, CPI, Heinz Rehab Center; Walter Slivinski, PT, DPT, Heinz Rehab Hospital; Angela Reese, PT, MPT, Heinz Rehab Center

Missing from photo: Ashley Reedy, PT, DPT, Dunmore Rehab Center; Leslie Ritter, MSPT, DPT, Allied Services Inpatient at Regional Hospital and Moses Taylor; Jean Rhine, PT, Luger Rehab Center.