What You Need To Know About Parkinson's Disease

Course Title:

With an increase in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) diagnosis each year, the CTRS should have a general understanding of this incurable and life-changing illness. Recreation therapy can be of great therapeutic value to the person with PD when PD is better understood. This course reviews a brief history of PD, statistics symptoms, difference in resting tremors versus other types of tremors, the effect of decreased dopamine in the brain, what Parkinson’s Disease is, important terms, PD staging, complications of PD, and activity ideas and tips for working with people with PD.
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Course Objectives

  • Learner will develop a basic understanding of Parkinson’s Disease

  • Learner will demonstrate adequate insight of the four cardinal areas of Parkinson’s Disease

  • Learner will demonstrate understanding of the significance of a resting tremor

  • Learner will demonstrate adequate insight of the many symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

  • Learner will develop a basic understanding of two important movement neurotransmitters

  • Learner will demonstrate historical knowledge of Parkinson's Disorder

  • Learner will demonstrate knowledge about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

  • Learner will be able to identify some effective RT interventions that could be used

Jo Anne Kikel, MA, CTRS, NASM-CPT

Instructor Bio:

Jo Anne Kikel, MA, CTRS, NASM-CPT has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist for over 30 years. She received her BS at the University of Northern Colorado and completed her internship at a day program for the disabled in Nottinghamshire, England where she resided with an English family for three months. She has worked in various settings including community recreation and special needs, psychiatry, physical rehabilitation and Alzheimer's units. Her favorite population is the elderly. She observing that older people, however physically frail, benefitted from and enjoyed moving their bodies to music. She observed that music and movement improved mood and socialization. She also observed that many elderly reported on the initial assessment that they had been sedentary and typically had not participated in any exercise for many years, stating, "I am too old for that". Jo Anne had decided to obtain her personal training certification so she could work with elderly people in the community with the hopes of lowering the chances of premature hospitalization. She began her personal training career while still employed as a CTRS in an addiction/mental health unit. She continues to provide gentle movement groups for the patients on the unit on a PRN basis and observed that gentle movement/correct breathing and relaxation had benefitted the younger patients as well. Because the statistics report one-third of seniors over 65 years of age experience falls, she is currently offering personal training services as well as balance classes at the local senior center. She believes that educating the elderly on the importance of starting and maintaining safe and effective (not to mention fun) exercises to their day will help keep clients living a meaningful and healthy lifestyle. She also hopes that the information she is sharing with other CTRS's will motivate them to include a gentle and safe exercise/movement class in their facilities.

Jo Anne Kikel, MA, CTRS, NASM-CPT

SMART Instructor