Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!) is a comprehensive, research-based exercise and wellness program for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. This program helps counteract the slow movements, freezing, postural dysfunction and other common symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that usually presents in movement limitations. Research has shown that proper exercise can stem, and in some cases even reverse, the effects of Parkinson’s Disease.
At Spooner Physical Therapy, some of the clinicians have PWR! training or certifications where they obtained the tools and exercises necessary to treat people with Parkinson’s Disease. The PWR! program personalizes movement patterns based on the individual and can be made very low or high intensity depending on the patient’s needs.”
The treatment consists of four basic PWR! Moves – PWR! UP, PWR! Twist, PWR! Shift and PWR! Step. Each move is designed to combat a specific Parkinson’s Disease symptom. They are completed in multiple different positions – lying down (supine), on the stomach (prone), on all fours (quadruped), seated, and standing. This allows for variety and for the program to be modified based on the individual.
A PWR! certified physical therapists can help you realize that the quality of the exercise matters in order to maximize the treatment’s effects. PRW! moves can be practiced alone as exercise and also integrated into everyday experiences.
PWR! is made specifically for people with Parkinson’s Disease. It can be tailored to any patient level. It can also be used for other neurologic diagnoses or people with balance dysfunction.
The treatment takes into account the limitations of the patient with Parkinson’s Disease. The moves are slow, rhythmic, and require sustained effort rather than an intense workout. The moves are linked together into sequences to allow for patients to do more as their endurance improves. They mimic everyday movement in order to improve overall functioning in life.
The program is specifically designed to counter the loss of autonomy many Parkinson’s Disease patients experience. They can be combined with secondary motor and cognitive tasks in order to create a “real world” environment.
PWR! Is based on the latest research in neuroplasticity and rehabilitation. It allows you to get better and stay better. Your efforts in Physical Therapy can actually change your brain, which can slow Parkinson’s progression.
If you or a loved one has Parkinson’s Disease, call Spooner Physical Therapy at 602-559-9700 to schedule a consultation with a physical therapist specializing Parkinson’s Disease to see whether the PWR! Program can help in the management of your Parkinson’s Disease symptoms.