Parkinson’s Disease
Outpatient Therapy
Parkinson’s Statistics
There are currently over 10 million people worldwide who have been diagnosed with this disease. Out of those 10 million, approximately 1 million American's have been actively living with this movement disorder. This diagnosis does not define the individual.
Passion and Specialized Focus
Michael has seen thousands of patients with Parkinson’s varied in Stages 1-5 in all adult settings including the ICU, acute care, in-patient rehabilitation unit, skilled nursing facilities, home health and outpatient clinics. Michael has gone through additional training certifications and has researched evidence based practice with each patient. Michael is planning on becoming a PWR! Moves Therapist (Parkinson Wellness Recovery) this year, making him the only practitioner within 48 miles of New Bern NC.
Chelsea has many years of experience being on various neuro rehab teams in different clinical settings seeing innumerous patients with PD. Chelsea has additionally gone through the comprehensive expert training to become a certified therapist through LSVT BIG! Her vast experience allows patients to improve long term daily functioning and improve quality of life.
Occupational Therapy Focus
Occupational Therapists will focus on a holistic approach to regain/maintain function, improve strength, implement compensatory strategies with tremors & freezing, improve range of motion, improve vision (if affected), improve balance, improve memory, improve endurance/activity tolerance, caregiver training. Occupational therapists are experts in the following:
Adapting the Environment
Adaptive Equipment
Adaptive Feeding
Bathing and Showering
Caregiver Education
Communication Management
Dressing
Driving and Community Mobility
Durable Medical Equipment Recommendations and Modifications
Eating and Swallowing - Aspiration prevention
Ergonomics
Falls Prevention
Feeding
Financial Management
Freezing of Gait Reduction
Functional Mobility/Active Movement
Grasp/Release of Hands and Fingers
Hand Eye Coordination
Health Management and Maintenance
Home Establishment and Maintenance
Leisure
Meal Preparation and Clean Up
Medication Management
Neuromuscular Reeducation
Pain Management
Paralysis
Paresis
Personal Device Care
Personal Hygiene and Grooming
Prevention
Redirecting Behaviors and/or Outbursts
Safety Procedures and Emergency Responses
Sensation
Shopping
Social Participation
Specialized Utensils
Subluxation Prevention or Rehabilitation
Toileting and Toilet Hygiene
Tremor reduction
Upper extremity issues/injuries
Vision
Wheelchair Management
Work
Why should I see an occupational therapist in addition to/or instead of a physical therapist?
Occupational Therapy practitioners have a whole body mindset that can provide a plethora of knowledge that will help with the progression of this disease. Our therapists have decades of experience combined with treating patients with Parkinson’s disease. This vast knowledge has empowered the clinicians to implement specific expert protocols that have shown improved patient outcomes in the following areas:
Improving balance
Improving dysgraphia (handwriting)
Improving fine motor skills
Improving gross motor / BIG movements
Improving independence
Improving mobility / range of motion
Improving quality of life
Increasing endurance / functional activity tolerance
Increasing strength
Reduction of falls
Reduction of freezing (freezing of gait - FOG)
Reduction of pain
Types of Parkinson’s Disease:
Corticobasal syndrome
Drug-induced parkinsonism
Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease
Juvenile Parkinson’s
Multiple system atrophy
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Progressive supranuclear palsy
Vascular Parkinsonism