A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Background: Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition of increasing incidence globally. There are a broad range of motor and non-motor symptoms individually experienced. Falls can be common and can increase the risk of fractures with consequent, potential complications of a possible hosp...

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Main Authors: Rebecca Verling, Peter Stride
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Vasinformatics 2025-06-01
Series:International Journal of Physiotherapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijphy.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1674
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author Rebecca Verling
Peter Stride
author_facet Rebecca Verling
Peter Stride
author_sort Rebecca Verling
collection DOAJ
description Background: Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition of increasing incidence globally. There are a broad range of motor and non-motor symptoms individually experienced. Falls can be common and can increase the risk of fractures with consequent, potential complications of a possible hospital admission. Early-stage education, promoting informed self-management including engagement in exercise, may reduce the associated consequences of reduced mobility, confidence and quality of life. This paper describes an inexpensive allied health led programme of exercise and education that aims to improve quality of life, reduce falls and promote self-managment. It promotes a proactive rather than reactive approach to Early Parkinson’s care. Methods: Ten volunteer patients with Parkinson’s Disease were recruited into a ten-week allied health program combining education about the condition and a course of physiotherapy led exercise to improve mobility and reduce falls. Results: Objective testing revealed an overall marked improvement in mobility and a reduced risk of falling. Developing knowledge and camaraderie between staff, patients, and relatives significantly improved the the patients's self-management and improved mental health. Conclusion: Activities of daily living can be significantly enhanced in Parkinson’s Disease patients with an inexpensive allied health plan.
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spelling doaj-art-0d23452dfecd44c8b595b8d682d0e9dd2025-08-20T02:38:30ZengVasinformaticsInternational Journal of Physiotherapy2349-59872348-83362025-06-0112210.15621/ijphy/2025/v12i2/1674A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s DiseaseRebecca Verling0Peter Stride1IOW NHS Trust.Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland, Australia. Background: Parkinson’s is a degenerative neurological condition of increasing incidence globally. There are a broad range of motor and non-motor symptoms individually experienced. Falls can be common and can increase the risk of fractures with consequent, potential complications of a possible hospital admission. Early-stage education, promoting informed self-management including engagement in exercise, may reduce the associated consequences of reduced mobility, confidence and quality of life. This paper describes an inexpensive allied health led programme of exercise and education that aims to improve quality of life, reduce falls and promote self-managment. It promotes a proactive rather than reactive approach to Early Parkinson’s care. Methods: Ten volunteer patients with Parkinson’s Disease were recruited into a ten-week allied health program combining education about the condition and a course of physiotherapy led exercise to improve mobility and reduce falls. Results: Objective testing revealed an overall marked improvement in mobility and a reduced risk of falling. Developing knowledge and camaraderie between staff, patients, and relatives significantly improved the the patients's self-management and improved mental health. Conclusion: Activities of daily living can be significantly enhanced in Parkinson’s Disease patients with an inexpensive allied health plan. https://ijphy.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1674Parkinson’s Disease, Allied Health, Physiotherapy, Falls Risk, Mobility evaluation and improvement, Independence and self-confidence.
spellingShingle Rebecca Verling
Peter Stride
A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
International Journal of Physiotherapy
Parkinson’s Disease, Allied Health, Physiotherapy, Falls Risk, Mobility evaluation and improvement, Independence and self-confidence.
title A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
title_full A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
title_fullStr A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
title_full_unstemmed A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
title_short A Cost-Effective Physiotherapy and Allied Health Program to Improve Education, Independent Function, and Reduce Falls in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
title_sort cost effective physiotherapy and allied health program to improve education independent function and reduce falls in patients with parkinson s disease
topic Parkinson’s Disease, Allied Health, Physiotherapy, Falls Risk, Mobility evaluation and improvement, Independence and self-confidence.
url https://ijphy.com/index.php/journal/article/view/1674
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