A physical therapist with a passion for integrative and lifestyle medicine


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Introduction
Approximately 10 million people around the world are currently living with Parkinson's. The prevalence of Parkinson's increases with age, with 1.5-2 percent of the population aged over 60 affected. 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. While the aetiology of Parkinson's is not fully understood, it is believed that some combination of genetic and environmental factors are involved, including lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, diet, and physical activity. This module 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.
Aims
The purpose of this course is to inform healthcare providers of lifestyle medicine approaches that can be beneficial for Parkinson's, including stress management, reducing substance abuse, enhancing social connectedness, and increasing exposure to outdoor environments.
Outline
This course is made up of videos, reading, forum posts and a final quiz. The course content is split into the following sections:
- Video
- Reading activity
- Quiz
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.