Introduction

Approximately 10 million people around the world are currently living with Parkinson's. Parkinson's is associated with the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. Common symptoms include resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, and non-motor symptoms such as anosmia, sleep behaviour disorder, depression, autonomic dysfunction, and cognitive dysfunction. This course focuses specifically on lifestyle strategies that can be beneficial for individuals with Parkinson's, including stress management, avoiding risky substance abuse, improving social connections, and the benefits of being in outdoor environments.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

• describe five evidence-based strategies to help manage stress
• describe one potential positive effect of smoking cessation on persons with Parkinson’s
• select appropriate strategies for engaging persons with Parkinson’s in activities that improve social connection
• support the recommendation for outdoor exercise with two positive outcomes for persons with Parkinson’s
• list six strategies for keeping patients safe while engaging in outdoor activities

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.

Practicalities

• Availability - this course is online and can be completed on your own schedule.
• Hours of Learning - No deadlines are applied to this course and it can be started and completed in your own time according to your personal schedule. We expect the required elements to take around 1-1.5 hours depending on your schedule and learning style. Additionally there are many optional resources provided and if you choose to review these the course could take longer to complete.
• Types of Activities - This course includes instructional and/or practical videos, reading activities, AI supported learning activities, reflection, evaluation forms, a quiz and additional resources.
• Certificates - At the end of the course, when you have completed all of the required elements, you will be able to download a certificate of completion and 1 Plus points will be added to your personalised learning dashboard.

Instructor financial and non-financial disclosures

Financial disclosure by Z Altug: I published the book, The Lifestyle Medicine Toolbox with Jessica Kingsley Publishers (London) on February 21, 2024.
No relevant non-financial relationships disclosed by instructor.

Accessibility and Non-Discrimination Policy

Physiopedia Plus is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible learning environment for all participants. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, national origin, religion, sex, disability, military status, sexual orientation or age in any aspect of our continuing education services. We are dedicated to ensuring that all learners can fully participate in our programmes. Participants who require accommodations or have special needs are encouraged to contact us with details so that we can make all reasonable efforts to meet these requirements.