Rehabilitation Medicine Initiative

Our Rehabilitation Medicine initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation care in Parkinson’s disease (PD).

The Problem

Rehabilitative care is under-utilized in Parkinson’s care. It is often used only in later disease stages, despite research demonstrating its positive effects. Rehabilitation can play a crucial role in managing and improving PD symptoms, quality of life and reducing disability from day one.

How We Are Addressing It

Our Rehabilitation Medicine initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation care in PD. That means helping people with Parkinson’s advocate for starting rehabilitative services at any point in their disease and motivating healthcare professionals to include evidence-based rehabilitation interventions to every patient with Parkinson’s. 

The Parkinson’s Foundation Global Rehabilitation Medicine Task Force published a consensus statement regarding the incorporation of rehabilitation in PD care. This expert-based consensus statement outlines key tenets of rehabilitative care including its multidisciplinary approach and discipline-specific guidance for occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology, and psychology/neuropsychology across all PD stages. Key takeaways include: 

• Rehabilitation for PD should involve the person with PD and care partner and should incorporate shared decision-making to promote symptom management and independence.
• Care coordination and communication among the rehabilitation team, the entire PD care team, the person with PD, and care partner are critical for best results. 
• Rehabilitation professionals should have knowledge and expertise in treating people with Parkinson’s disease.
• Since Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, rehabilitative care should be offered at diagnosis and regularly throughout the disease course with repeated assessments and interventions adapted to changes in a person’s condition or needs. 

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