Speaker: Professor Robert Iansek BMed Sci, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, OAM Professor of Geriatric Neurology, Monash. Director of the Victorian Comprehensive Parkinson Program, the Clinical Research centre for Movement Disorder and Gait Kinston Centre, Monash health Webinar: To join the webinar session: • Go to: • Select 'I am a participant' and enter your full name • Enter participant code: To webinar from mobile devices, download the apps: iPhone: Android: PLEASE NOTE: It is highly recommended that you log in to Redback Conferencing and test your system to ensure that your computer/ device has the necessary programs (e.g. Adobe Flash Player) to run the session.

Background Although physical therapy and falls prevention education are argued to reduce falls and disability in people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, this has not yet been confirmed with a large scale randomised controlled clinical trial. The study will investigate the effects on falls, mobility and quality of life of (i) movement strategy training combined with falls prevention education, (ii) progressive resistance strength training combined with falls prevention education, (iii) a generic life-skills social program (control group). Methods/Design People with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who live at home will be recruited and randomly allocated to one of three groups.

Best garmin for truck drivers. Margarita Makoutonina has been the Senior Clinician, Occupational Therapist in the Victorian Comprehensive Parkinson Program (VCPP), National Centre of Excellence in Melbourne, for over 12 years. She has delivered research papers at many na.

Each person shall receive therapy in an out-patient setting in groups of 3-4. Bliss n eso discography torrents. Each group shall be scheduled to meet once per week for 2 hours for 8 consecutive weeks. All participants will also have a structured 2 hour home practice program for each week during the 8 week intervention phase. Assessments will occur before therapy, after the 8 week therapy program, and at 3 and 12 months after the intervention. A falls calendar will be kept by each participant for 12 months after outpatient therapy. Consistent with the recommendations of the Prevention of Falls Network Europe group, three falls variables will be used as the primary outcome measures: the number of fallers, the number of multiple fallers and the falls rate.

In addition to quantifying falls, we shall measure mobility, activity limitations and quality of life as secondary outcomes. Background Falls are common in people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) and fall related injuries can be associated with immobility and reduced quality of life. Many people with PD experience difficulties walking and balancing as the disease progresses and this can compromise their ability to participate in work, family, community and social activities [,]. Previous research suggests that more than half of people who are diagnosed with PD experience one or more falls in a given 12 month period, compared to 30% of older adults who live in the community [-]. The extent to which falls in people with PD are related to hypokinesia, dyskinesa, postural instability, rigidity, weakness, cognitive impairment or medication remains unclear. The associated burden of disease arising from falls and immobility can impact adversely on individuals, their families, the healthcare system and society. At the present time there is no known cure for idiopathic PD.

Pharmacological therapy currently provides the most effective symptomatic treatment for many movement disorders []. Nevertheless freezing of gait, postural instability and hypokinesia have only a limited or short-lived response to PD medication in many individuals []. As the disease progresses, PD medications are adjusted in response to changes in symptoms []. Despite the best medical management, motor fluctuations and movement disorders can recur due to progressive cell loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta in the brainstem and disruption to neural connections to the frontal lobes, cerebellum and other regions of the brain [].