Impact of a Wellness Recovery Program on Balance for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Aileen Dawkins (Creator)

Institution

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )

Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Advisor

Judy Kinney

Abstract: The Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery Program at Wake Forest Baptist Health is a community-based recreation therapy program that provides neuroplasticity principles of balance for participants with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The program is designed to help individuals with PD restore and maintain functioning. A program evaluation to determine the efficacy of the program is currently underway. The evaluation uses a multiple single subject design that includes two weeks of baseline data followed by 12 weeks of intervention. This write up involves one study participant who completed both baseline data and four week program data before dropping out of the study. The write-up focuses on the balance measures results. The balance measures taken during the study are used to determine if the program helps individuals with PD improve balance and become less likely to fall. Results of the study found that the participant improved on the Five Times Sit-to-Stand test, but did not improve on the Timed Up and Go or the Timed Floor Transfer test. Since the study participant did not complete the 12 week program, it is difficult to determine the impact of the Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery Program. The study will continue to study more participants to determine the effectiveness of this program.

Impact of a Wellness Recovery Program on Balance for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease
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Created on 1/2/2019
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Additional Information

Publication

Honors Project

Language: English

Date: 2018

Keywords

Parkinson's disease, neuroplasticity, balance, recreation therapy, recreation therapists, neuroprotective qualities

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