Parkinson Wellness Recovery RecoveryPWR

Physical & occupational therapy - the pwr!gym is a model community Wellness center in tucson, Arizona, where parkinson-specialized physical & occupational therapists provide research-based therapy to those living with Parkinson disease. The functional therapeutic approach, pwr!moves, was created by PWR! Founder and chief scientific officer, dr. becky farley, phd, ms, pt. While the majority of clients are local to the tucson area, dozens come to the pwr!gym each year from around the united states, canada, and elsewhere to benefit from the cutting-edge therapeutic programs provided. Through regular individual therapy and unique "intensive" programs, PWR! Provided nearly 4,000 hours of therapy to insurance and self-pay clients during this fiscal year.

Continuing education for therapy and exercise professionals - each year, PWR! Conducts in person and virtual workshops to train and certify physical and occupational therapists and exercise professionals in the pwr!moves methodology. PWR! Workshops are unique in the continuing education arena because of live demonstrations and practica featuring volunteers with pd, which gives participants the opportunity to observe, learn, and then practice the skills being taught. Therapist workshops teach how to design comprehensive, individualized therapy programs for people with pd that address multiple symptoms across varying levels of functionality. Instructor workshops teach participants how to design and teach community group exercise programs utilizing large and fast functional movements (based on the pwr!moves) to decrease the symptoms of pd in participants. Together, these workshops train professionals to create a clinical-to-community model of care for people with pd to maintain function and quality of life using appropriately timed bouts of therapeutic intervention with continued community-based exercise programs in between bouts. To date, PWR! Has trained over 7,000 therapists and instructors who are providing pd-specialized programs around the globe.

Exercise and Wellness services - a growing body of research demonstrates that exercise is one of the most important interventions for people with Parkinson disease (pd), and PWR! Was one of the first organizations of its kind to offer pd-specific exercise programming in the us. Throughout this year, PWR! Offered about forty (40) in-person, multi-level pd-specific group exercise classes weekly. Participants were challenged by activities combining aerobic, balance, agility, strength, flexibility, and cognitive training, which align with the newly-adopted exercise guidelines for people with pd. Additionally, PWR! Continued to grow its virtual gym program (PWR! Virtual experience), which features livestreamed virtual exercise classes, a library of over 500 prerecorded pd-specific exercise videos, and virtual one-on-one Wellness consultations. The PWR! Virtual experience - at www.exerciseforbrainchange.org - is accessible by anyone with an internet connection and a device, increasing the ability for people with transportation challenges or in areas that lack specialized healthcare resources to obtain the vital services they need to maintain function and quality of life.

Science and research - led by dr. becky farley, phd, PWR! Maintains an active science and research program, exploring various questions and periodically presenting and publishing the results. The staff also compile the most recent research on Parkinson disease and pd-specific movement therapies, translating the science into cutting-edge programs and services offered for people with pd and through continuing education courses for therapy and exercise professionals.

PWR! Retreat - the PWR! Retreat is a weeklong conference for people with Parkinson disease and their care partners offering exercise, education, enrichment, and empowerment activities. Participants engage in four hours of pd-specific exercise daily which challenge participants by practicing skills shown by research to interfere with function and mobility. Additionally, participants attend lectures featuring physicians, researchers, and scientists who are impacting the Parkinson's community, build social connections with peers, and learn from one another in a supportive and positive environment. Care partners including spouses, partners, siblings, cousins, adult children, and others participate in educational and supportive partner-focused activities and join their loved ones for general programming. Attendees describe the retreat as a life-changing experience that equips them to live well with pd.