Innovative Parkinson’s program

Published on

With the recent recognition of Parkinson’s Awareness Month across Canada, Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) is spreading the word about its unique program for people with the neurodegenerative illness.

For a number of years, KDH has been offering a weekly Parkinson’s Exercise and Movement Group that focuses on strengthening and balance exercises – last year KDH moved the program out of the Hospital and into a dance studio! The move was made possible by an innovative collaboration with The Workshop Dance Studio in Kemptville.

Parkinson’s affects the body’s movement; its most common symptoms are tremor, slowness and stiffness, impaired balance and rigidity of the muscles. Although the diagnosis of Parkinson’s may be life-changing, its symptoms can be successfully managed with medication, counselling and exercise.

Gaining the patient perspective through age related training

Operating the KDH Parkinson’s exercise group at The Workshop Dance Studio means increased access to this important program: physiotherapist Tanya Collins reports that KDH has been able to eliminate its previous waiting list. And with The Workshop Dance Studio’s owner, Nancy Morgan, acting as an additional instructor, a broader scope of expertise can be offered to the participants as they perform the exercises and movements.

As well, with more room to move freely, the therapeutic benefits for specific Parkinson’s impairments are optimized, while the temperature-regulated space provides increased comfort for participants.

KDH’s Parkinson’s program is offered in partnership with Parkinson Society Ottawa. The Exercise and Movement Group meets every Wednesday at 1:00 pm at The Workshop Dance Studio in Kemptville. To join, call 613.258.6133, extension 136 to make an appointment for an initial assessment. A doctor’s referral is not required.

If you have been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you are not alone. Parkinson Canada has information and tools you need to lead a healthier, more independent life.  Learn more at https://www.parkinson.ca

 

Latest articles

St. Michael’s Hospital performs Toronto’s first robotic mitral valve repair

The surgery took place in St. Michael’s Hospital’s Schroeder BRAIN&HEART Centre, where a highly...

Research reveals why some cells are more susceptible to cancer

The ability of mutations to cause cancer depends on how fast they force cells...

Pharmacy is everywhere healthcare happens: a new era for pharmacy professionals

You can find pharmacy anywhere healthcare happens.  It’s easy to picture the pharmacist behind a...

Pharmacy professional collaboration in motion in air and on ground, wherever care goes

With a mandate to deliver life-saving critical care transport to over 14 million patients...

More like this

Study identifies new genetic cause of neurodevelopmental disorders

A seminal study from researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai...

Stroke protection and brain health

Every day, millions of people worry about losing their memory, having a stroke, or...

World first: Canadian innovation enhances drug access to brain areas affected by ALS

Sunnybrook scientists in the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program made history this week as they...

A new app can greatly improve ventriculostomy safety and accuracy

Access to potentially life-saving neurosurgical care remains very uneven worldwide, with potentially life-threatening consequences....

First-of-its-kind trial tests MDMA for treatment of chronic nerve pain

St. Michael’s Hospital researcher is launching a first-of-its-kind global trial to test the impact...

Trial will test if MDMA brings relief for chronic nerve pain

St. Michael’s Hospital researcher is launching a first-of-its-kind global trial to test the impact...