Exercise Professionals

Exercise is increasingly accepted as an adjunct treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is associated with slower declines in mobility and improved quality of life. Exercise professionals provide leadership, expertise and programs to help people living with Parkinson’s achieve their goals and manage their Parkinson’s symptoms.

These professionals should be considered an integral part of the interprofessional care team for people with Parkinson’s.

The Challenge

Despite the important role exercise professionals play in the care of people with Parkinson’s, as recent as 2022, there were no unified procedures in place to define competence of exercise professionals working with people with Parkinson’s. Anyone could teach exercise to people with Parkinson’s and community assumed they are competent.

This made it increasingly difficult for people with Parkinson’s and healthcare providers to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of programs, as well as the skills and experience of the instructor.

Parkinson’s Foundation Exercise Guidelines for People with Parkinson’s

As a leader in driving better health outcomes and quality of life for people with Parkinson’s, the Parkinson's Foundation along with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has created Exercise Guidelines for people with Parkinson’s.

The Parkinson’s Foundation Exercise Guidelines provide direction to help people with Parkinson’s maintain or improve their health through physical activity.

These guidelines were developed and reviewed by a panel of exercise and Parkinson’s experts. They were built upon existing exercise guidelines, supplemented by physical therapy resources, PD-specific exercise research and expert opinions. The guidelines include recommended frequency, intensity, time, type, volume, and progression (FITT-VP) of exercises that are safe and effective for people with Parkinson’s across four domains:

1. Aerobic
2. Strengthening
3. Balance, Agility & Multitasking
4. Flexibility

Parkinson’s Foundation Exercise Accreditation Recognition

The Parkinson’s Foundation Exercise Accreditation Recognition distinguishes Parkinson’s-specific exercise education programs and courses that align and adhere to our Criteria for Exercise Education Programs and Courses and Competency Framework for Exercise Professionals.

The goal of the criteria and competency framework is to decrease the variability in knowledge and skill among exercise professionals so they can provide optimal exercise programming for people with Parkinson’s. 

If you’re an exercise professional looking to further your knowledge and skill in Parkinson’s and exercise, we encourage you to attend any of the following Parkinson’s Foundation accredited programs and courses! 

View all Parkinson's Foundation Exercise Education Accredited Providers.

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