July 16, 2010 Madison, WI Download Flyer Register Online

Target Audience: This is a prerequisite to all PWR!GYM training programs.
Description: Attendees will gain knowledge about the mission of the Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) project and be introduced to the rationale for exercise programs for people with PD that adhere to Exercise4BrainChange™ principles (intensity/specificity/complexity/difficulty). An overview of Parkinson disease will summarize how sensory/motor/cognitive symptoms impact mobility, balance, flexibility, and function. This background will provide a framework for how to apply PD-specific concepts of neural priming, activation, sensory awareness, and empowerment while training individuals with PD or teaching different group class formats using a series of targeted functional movement exercises (PWR! MOVES) that progress in complexity.

July 16, 2010 Madison, WI Download Flyer Register Online

Target Audience: Hold a 2 or 4 year degree in health, exercise science, recreation or physical activity related field with 2 years experience in the field. Must maintain current CPR certification and have attended the PWR!GYM™ Understanding Parkinson’s and Exercise course.
Description: This group exercise class introduces the cornerstone PWR!GYM™ exercise moves (PWR! MOVES™), that are reiterated in all our programs. Participants will take part in a “Master” class demo with volunteer patients and learn how to model and teach a series of nine PWR! MOVES™. For each PWR! MOVE exercise, participants will learn a group format that implements techniques that target neural priming (ie., mental imagery, attentional focus, modeling), activation, sensory awareness, and empowerment. Instructors will be taught a functional focus to increase carryover of PWR! MOVES™ “outside” the gym. They will also learn how to use cueing, instructional, and safety techniques to reduce risk of falls and facilitate better movements. Emphasis will be on promoting an environment that embraces an atmosphere of motivation, social enrichment, and fun. These are essential ingredients for learning for people with PD. At the end of the day, you will be prepared to teach a 1-hour group exercise class in your facility or community!

August 14-15, 2010 Flagstaff, AZ Download Flyer Register 520-591-5346

Target Audience: PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs
Description: Recent advances in basic and clinical science research suggest exercise and learning approaches can promote brain change (neuroplasticity) in persons with Parkinson disease (PD). Key studies will be summarized to identify and justify essential techniques for the promotion of neuroplasticity: including how existing compensatory approaches (cueing/movement strategy/musculoskeletal training) and complementary approaches (meditation/mindfulness, relaxation, yoga, etc) can be accommodated. These techniques will advocate forced use, progressive difficulty, specificity of training, repetition, reinforcement, active engagement, empowerment, attention to action, perceptual awareness training (kinesthetic, visual-spatial), and neural readiness (aerobic conditioning/mental imagery). This neuroplasticity-principled “toolbox” will be integrated with our understanding of the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease into a novel deficit-targeted clinical framework (ActivationAwareness™). Video case studies and an interactive format will introduce specific exercises and various progressions to illustrate the real world implementation of this framework across disease severity. This framework is meant to summarize the “best of the best” and to help clinicians choose the best mix of evidenced-based approaches that take into account disease severity, symptoms, co-morbidities, preferred forms of exercise and activity, capacity for learning, and age. The clinical translation of neuroplasticity-principled approaches for people with PD is dependent upon overcoming many challenges. Regional networks of PD-exercise experts (PWR! NETWORKS™) are needed to advocate for early intervention, ongoing exercise, enrichment and assessment, and coordination with existing community fitness resources and local Parkinson foundations. We will describe how a community-based neurogym may offer a potential solution using feasibility and preliminary data from a model program in Tucson, AZ (PWR!GYM™).

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