ScholarWorks > HHS > OT > OJOT > Vol. 13 > Iss. 4 (2025)
Credentials Display
Lauren Turbeville, OTD, OTR/L; Caroline Adams, OTD, OTR/L; Amy Wedge, PT, DPT; Kailey Smitherman; Kathrin Rothermich, PhD
Abstract
Background: Traditional exercise programs are beneficial in managing Parkinson’s disease (PD). Little research exists on interdisciplinary, functional exercise programs designed and implemented by licensed therapists.
Method: Our case series presents the development, implementation, and results of an interdisciplinary functional exercise program for individuals with PD and the effects this program had on daily functioning and quality of life. Participants were recruited via flyers, email, and phone communication, and consented to data collection for our objectives. Participants attended two sessions per week for 8 weeks. Sessions addressed fine and gross motor skills, dexterity, cognition, functional strength, gait, balance, and posture. Outcome measures were chosen before the implementation of pre-assessments, including PD-specific evaluations of cognition, mobility, gait, balance, coordination, strength, dexterity, and quality of life.
Results: Seven participants (4 M, 3 F) with PD completed pre-assessment, intervention, and post-assessment. As hypothesized, they demonstrated improvement across multiple outcomes, mostly in mobility metrics.
Discussion: Findings from this case series suggest that an interdisciplinary, functional exercise program integrating occupational and physical therapy can meaningfully improve mobility, reduce bodily discomfort, and positively influence aspects of quality of life for individuals with PD. The program’s emphasis on functional tasks and interdisciplinary collaboration highlights the value of tailoring interventions to both motor and non-motor challenges. These results support further investigation of interdisciplinary exercise approaches as a complementary component of traditional care for this population.
Recommended Citation
Turbeville, L., Adams, C., Wedge, A., Smitherman, K., & Rothermich, K. (2025). An Interdisciplinary Functional Exercise Program for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2372
Comments
The authors declare that they have no competing financial, professional, or personal interest that might have influenced the performance or presentation of the work described in this manuscript.
They acknowledge the use of ChatGPT to generate information for background research at the drafting stage of the writing process with the creation of an outline structure for this paper. No content generated by AI technologies has been presented as their work.