#PullTest

🤩 Live real-time patient interaction. 🧠 Working on transitional movements, first step initiation and dynamic balance and reactive postural control with the cross-over step! 🙏 Krystyna works incredibly hard and graciously gave me permission to post this real-time interaction. 👀 This is a raw, unfiltered look into a treatment session and one intervention that specifically addressed her challenges and goals. 🤙 Hope this helps! #parkinsons #physicaltherapy #neuro #balance #falls

In Parkinson’s disease, the brain finds it hard to initiate movement. But something as simple as footstep cues 👣 can unlock walking. 👉 External cues = better movement 👉 Structured steps = less freezing This is why physiotherapy isn’t just exercise… it’s neuro-retraining. 💾 Save this for clinical practice 📤 Share with someone who needs this” #ParkinsonsRehab #NeuroRehab #PhysioEducation #physiotherapy #growoninstagram

PWR! Moves aren’t just for people with Parkinson’s. I love incorporating PWR! moves with all my neuro clients because they are functional, scalable, and perfect for intensity driven interventions. Hanging balloons was the best way I have found to encourage a full weight shift while also emphasizing extension and good stance control. And it was fun!! Channeling birthday party, piñata energy. 🎉 Do you use PWR! moves with clients who have diagnoses other than Parkinson’s? PWR! Moves credit to @pwrgymtucson of course!

🧠 Balance training shouldn’t always be predictable. In this intervention, the patient is walking on a compliant mat surface in an overhead harness while interacting with randomized BlazePods placed around the mat. 🔵 Blue = step with LEFT foot 🔴 Red = step with RIGHT foot Two pods are placed on the floor while others are elevated on 2-inch and 4-inch step-ups to challenge foot clearance, weight shifting, and single limb stability. Why this works 👇 ⚡ Dynamic visual scanning The randomized lights force the patient to constantly search the environment and react. 🦶 Task-specific stepping practice Color-coded cues require accurate foot selection, motor planning, and cognitive dual task. ⚖️ Reactive balance + uneven terrain The compliant surface and variable step heights simulate real-world walking demands. 🧠 Cognitive-motor integration The brain must process visual information and translate it into the correct movement quickly. The overhead harness allows us to safely push intensity while reducing fall risk. This type of training can be useful for patients with: • Stroke • Parkinson’s disease • Vestibular dysfunction • Traumatic brain injury • General balance impairments 💡 Real life walking requires reacting to the environment — not just walking in a straight line. #neuropt #neurorehab #strokerehab #balancetraining #parkinsonsrehab

It may seem strange to add weight to someone whose legs already feel heavy due to Parkinson’s, but strategic and personalized weighting can help a struggling sensory system know what’s going on with the body, calm tremors and dystonia, decrease pain and improve balance. Here we added weight to the head and trunk. Where are other body parts you’ve added weight to? #sensory #ot #pt #pd #brain

Fun lab! Learning coordination, balance and mobility activities to integrate with Parkinson’s patients!! • • • • • #physicaltherapy #gradschool #gradstudent #dptstudent #healthcare

Neuro II Lab ➡️ Gait Analysis: Patient with Parkinson🚶🏽 Here we are analyzing this patient’s gait and determining what deviations he may have such as arm swing, forwards/backward rotation of the pelvis, IR/ER rotation of the hip, knee flexion/extension, and ankle INV/EV/PF Parkinson’s is a neuro degenerative disorder in which dopamine producing cells in the brain (Primarily in the substantia nigra) start decrease. This therefore causes symptoms such as rigidity, resting tremors, and bradykinesia. A great PT intervention for combating bradykinesia is BIG therapy in which the therapist has the patient “over exaggerate their movements” to the patients perspective. But in reality their movements would look normal to the normal population. #neuropt #physicaltherapist #parkinsons #gaitanalysis

Wall-supported overhead reach with a ball. This exercise is very beneficial for someone with Parkinson’s disease. Here’s how it helps: 🧠 1. Improves Motor Control & Coordination Reaching overhead while stabilizing a ball challenges (hand–eye coordination) and controlled arm movement, which helps counter bradykinesia (slowness of movement). 💪 2. Increases Shoulder Mobility & Flexibility Parkinson’s often causes stiffness (rigidity). Overhead reaching: * Improves shoulder range of motion * Reduces upper-body stiffness * Promotes more upright posture 🧍 3. Enhances Posture & Trunk Extension Standing tall against a wall and reaching upward encourages: * Better spinal alignment * Activation of back and core muscles * Reduction of stooped posture (common in Parkinson’s) ⚖️ 4. Improves Balance & Weight Shifting Reaching up and slightly forward challenges balance safely (especially with wall support), helping: * Stability during daily tasks * Reduced fall risk 🧠 5. Promotes Amplitude-Based Movement Parkinson’s patients benefit from **big, exaggerated movements** (similar to LSVT BIG principles). This exercise encourages: * Large arm movements * Increased movement confidence * Breaking the “small movement” pattern ✋ 6. Strengthens Grip & Upper Limb Muscles Holding and pressing the ball activates: * Hand grip strength * Shoulder stabilizers * Arm endurance

🚶‍♂Walking from Different Surfaces / Structures in Neuro Rehabilitation 1️⃣ Balance Training ⚖️ Different surfaces (floor, grass, mat, ramp) challenge the balance system. 👉 This helps the patient improve postural control. 2️⃣ Sensory Stimulation 🦶 Different textures give sensory input to the feet. 👉 It improves proprioception and sensory-motor control. 3️⃣ Muscle Activation 💪 Uneven or different surfaces activate different muscles in the legs and core. 4️⃣ Gait Training 👣 It improves walking pattern and helps the patient adapt to real-life environments. 5️⃣ Fall Prevention 🚶 Training on various surfaces prepares the patient to walk safely in daily life. Walking training on different surfaces like mats, grass, ramps, or uneven floors helps stimulate the brain and body. It improves balance, coordination, muscle activation, and sensory feedback. This type of training also prepares neuro patients for real-life walking situations and reduces the risk of falls. 👉 Follow for more evidence-based physiotherapy & rehab tips. Follow me Dr.neuro_therapist 📌 #physiotherapy #neurorehab #strokeRecovery #neurophysio #gaittraining

I love education and love showing people that learning how to provide top quality rehab doesn’t have to be overwhelming! My name is Dr. Nick Dennis, PT, DPT, NCS and am a Neurologic clinical specialist in physical therapy specializing in Parkinson’s Disease & Stroke rehab! I’m so glad you are here!! Come follow us🖤✌🏻

The U-Step was designed to increase independence and eliminate falling among those with neurological conditions. Its features make it superior compared to other walking aids by providing more stability, maneuverability and control. The U-Step is regularly prescribed by physicians and physical and occupational therapists from leading hospitals and rehabilitation centers. #parkinsons #parkinsonsdisease #movementdisorder #neurology

Check out this patient’s before and after! Normal compensatory stepping is 1 step. When stepping response is impaired, there is an increased risk for falling. For people with Parkinson’s, backward reactive stepping tends to be more difficult, especially as posture begins to decline. That’s why falls are often backwards in the PD population. Parkinson’s specific intervention can effectively decrease fall risk. Our neuro team has extra PD trainings and certifications. #neuroPT #neuroOT #PD #parkinsons