Exercise can change the Parkinson brain! For persons living with PD, a disease specific approach to exercise is medically necessary to improve the quality of their life. This course will introduce the latest evidence based etiology, prevalence, anatomy, physiology and medication needs of the person with idiopathic PD as well as the types of evidence based exercise that are known to induce behavioral and brain based anatomical changes. The concept of a Parkinsonism disease process vs the specific degenerative nature and location of damage in idiopathic Parkinson’s will be discussed to understand the motor (i.e. bradykinesia, rigidity and tremor), non-motor (i.e. decreased cognition and motivation) and autonomic (sleep, constipation and pain symptoms) symptoms of PD across the disease severity. Clinicians will be able to successfully address the needs of the whole patient to optimize function and improve lives. We know that exercise can improve strength, agility and fitness level, but that is just the beginning! Evidence will be introduced that exercise is medicine for persons with PD when delivered with the appropriate skill and aerobic essentials addressed. Therapists will leave with numerous new exercise and intervention strategies to use in the clinic immediately. It is NEVER too late for persons with Parkinson Disease (PD) to change their function and improve their lives. Please join the revolution to change the Parkinson’s brain!
Day 1
9:00 AM – Introduction: The Anatomy and Physiology of Parkinson’s Disease. What do we really need to know to effectively treat persons with Parkinson’s Disease? (Does the basal ganglia really do all of this?)
11:00 AM – Break
11:15 AM – Plasticity and learning in PD (Introduction to exercise concepts designed to change the Parkinson’s brain)
1:30 PM – Working Lunch (Video Case Study and Discussion)
2:30 PM – Evidence Based Exercise Concepts in Parkinson’s: People with Parkinson’s can get better and stay better through exercise.
Parkinson’s Exercise Concepts (LAB)
(Boxing, bicycle, tango anyone, pole walking, scarves, stretching)
3:30 PM – Break
4:45 PM – Amplitude Based Therapies for Parkinson’s: Introduction to LSVT BIG & LOUD (LAB)
5:45 PM – Introduction to Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!) (LAB)
6:45 PM – Questions and Answers
7:00 PM – Adjourn
Day 2
9:00 AM – What People with Parkinson’s and People at Risk for Parkinson’s Need to Know: Late breaking evidence from the World Parkinson’s Congress (WPC)
10:00 AM – Exercise Prescription in Parkinson’s Disease: A disease specific exercise approach for the many issues found in PD; (Freezing and cognition, movement and executive functioning in PD)
11:00 AM – Break
11:15 AM – Dual Task Practice in Parkinson’s Disease: Yes, persons with PD can get better at doing this as well. (The what, why and “wins” of adding dual task practice to your exercise program)
1:30 PM – Working Lunch (Practicing Outcome Tools)
2:30 PM – Late Stage PD Exercise Concepts (Don’t hide from stage 4 & 5)
4:00 PM – Break
4:15 PM – Documentation/Outcomes: A look at outcome tools for early, mid and late stage PD (One size does not fit all… G-Code and reimbursement tips for PD)
6:00 PM – Parkinson’s Disease Community Program Design Ideas: A bright future for persons with PD (Join the PD exercise revolution)
6:45 PM – Questions & Answers
7:00 PM – Adjourn
Upon completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:
- Understand and discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of Parkinson’s Disease across the disease process
- Demonstrate awareness of the latest research insights to the etiology and prevalence of PD
- Discus the learning and dual task capabilities of persons with PD throughout the disease process
- Demonstrate an awareness of the various evidence based exercise concepts that are known to improve movement and induce neuroplasticity in persons with PD
- Gain insight to the evidence based principles of the LSVT BIG and LOUD™ protocols
- Gain insight to the evidence based principles of Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery PWR! (PWR4Life.ORG)
- Discuss and improve awareness of the latest evidence introduced at the World Parkinson’s Congress 2023
- Demonstrate awareness of various evidence based outcome tools that can be utilized across the Parkinson’s Disease process
- Gain insights of the need for a diverse battery of outcome tools to assess, reassess and follow a persons with PD across their disease process
- Demonstrate an understanding of the necessity of an ongoing Parkinson specific battery of outcome tools needed for effective documentation and reimbursement throughout their individual degenerative disease process.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the need for a sustained specific community support and outreach program for the person with PD throughout their life span
EDUCATIONAL CREDIT: A certificate of attendance for 20 contact hours of educational activity (20 CEUs or 2.0 CEUs depending on how your Practice Act determines CEUs in your state) will be awarded to registrants upon completion of the seminar.
Physical Therapy: Great Seminars and Books is an Approved CE Provider for PTs and PTAs in NY, IL, CA, TX, and NM and this course provides 20 contact hours of continuing education. This course is also approved for PTs and PTAs in AR, MS, LA, PA and MD for 20 contact Hours. Great Seminars and Books is a CE Approved Provider by APTA Arkansas. Approval # APTA-AR 2322. This course is approved by the Florida Physical Therapy Association for 24 contact hours as a “live course.” FPTA Approval Number: CE26-1355869. Exp. 12/31/26. This course is approved by the Louisiana Board of Physical Therapy for 20 contact hours as: Category: Clinical and Type: Live Webinar. Exp. 12/31/26. This course is approved by the Maryland Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 20 CE Hours. Approval #2025-998. Exp. 8/25/29. This course is approved by the Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy for 20 clinical hours. Exp. 6/30/26. This course is approved by the New Jersey Board of Physical Therapy Examiners for 20 contact hours. Approval # 2601-05. Exp. 1/31/28. This course is approved by the Pennsylvania Board of Physical Therapy for 20.00 General Hours. Approval #PTPR016329. Exp. 12/31/26. Have applied for approval in Wisconsin, Nevada, Ohio, and Arizona. Our courses also meet the guidelines for approval in AL, AK, AZ, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IA, IN, KS, KY, MA, MI, MO, MS, MT, NE, NH, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY. This course is Category 2 for Minnesota, up to 10 hours permitted.
Occupational Therapy: Great Seminars and Books is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider of professional development. This live, distance learning (interactive), and distance learning (independent) course is offered at 2.0 CEUs (20 contact hours), intermediate educational level, for categories of OT Service Delivery. Course approval ID# 13445. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Expires 10/18/30. Please verify if your state accepts AOTA approval of continuing education courses.
Your tuition may be tax deductible. Any reference to or mention of state rules or regulations concerning continuing education requirements are true and accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of print. If you have questions, please contact your board or regulating body.
If you do not see your state listed, please give our office a call at 877 794 7328.
WEBINAR
A webinar is live, interactive video course delivered over the Internet to your computer. You will be able to see, hear and interact with the course presenter. This live, webinar will utilize live instruction, demonstrative videos, power point slides and more. You will have an opportunity to ask questions during the seminar. A comprehensive handout will be made available to you after you register for the webinar. In many courses, demonstrative video will be used to further enhance your learning experience. All written content used in the presentation will also be made available to you for your personal use (Power Point Slides, Reference Materials etc.).
Financial Disclosure: Valerie Carter, PT, DPT, NCS, GCS, is a lecturer for GREAT Seminars. She receives payment from GREAT Seminars for the presentation of this course.
Nonfinancial Disclosure: No relevant nonfinancial relationship exists.
Content Disclosure: This course does not focus solely on any specific product or service.
Platform for Webinar: We will use a ZOOM platform for conducting this webinar.
20 contact hours
March 7-8, 2026 - $445.00
Day 1 Only - 10 contact hours
March 7, 2026 - $225.00
Day 2 Only - 10 contact hours
March 8, 2026 - $225.00
Accessing the Live Webinar:
You will receive a separate email approximately 2-3 weeks before the course date which will contain the link to the Live Zoom Webinar. You will also be able to find the link on the course page. You will be asked to provide a username and password to access this page when you register. In order to verify that your device works with Zoom you may click here to test your device.
A post-test will be given at the end of Day 1 for the Day 1 materials and a Post-Test will be given on Day 2 for the Day 2 materials. A post-test score of 70% or more is considered passing. Scores of less than 70% indicate a failure to understand the material and the test will need to be taken again until a passing score has been achieved. For each day attended, you will receive a certificate of completion for 10 contact hours. If you attend both days of the Live Webinar, you will receive a total of 20 contact hours. Live Webinars allow presenter and participant interaction. The exam and course evaluation for these courses must be completed within 7 days of the event.