Parkinson’s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain’s ability to properly coordinate and execute movement. This disruption in signaling can lead to a reduced quality of life, characterized by poor balance, postural instability, stooped posture, and limited range of motion. Management of the disease is multimodal, involving physical rehabilitation, fall prevention strategies, and medical therapy. Numerous clinical trials are exploring different aspects of this management approach to develop more targeted and effective interventions for altering the disease course.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a joint disease characterized by the degeneration of cartilage and bone, leading to joint pain and stiffness that often interferes with daily activities. Its management typically involves a combination of exercise, weight loss, medical therapies, and, in some cases, surgery. Physical therapy can play a crucial role by strengthening joints and potentially slowing degeneration, thereby reducing the burden of the disease on affected individuals.
Current Projects
BFR and knee OA
Knee osteoarthritis often limits a person’s ability to tolerate high resistance exercises necessary to improve muscle strength. This is especially relevant in the context of postoperative recovery from total knee replacement surgeries for individuals with osteoarthritis. This study will evaluate if physical therapy at lower intensities with blood flow restriction prior to surgery can be a means to feasibly increasing muscle strength in this population without the same demand.
SPARX3 in PD
Sparx3 is a national trial investigating the impact of exercise on the management of Parkinson’s Disease. While Parkinson’s management is typically multimodal, involving both exercise and medical therapy, this trial isolates the effects of exercise alone. It aims to evaluate the attenuation of Parkinson’s symptoms after 12 months of high-intensity versus moderate-intensity exercise, before any exposure to medical therapy. We are currently recruiting individuals who have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and have not yet undergone any medical treatments.
AE and VR in PD
Exercise has been shown to be an effective primer to rehabilitation and facilitates neuroplasticity. In this study we are analyzing how different intensities of exercise can impact balance, postural control, and neuroplasticity in Parkinson’s Disease. We are comparing neuroplasticity, blood-based biomarkers, spinal reflex excitability, balance, and gait before and after the completion of the intervention.
BFR and IRT in PD
Falls are a common predicament for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to poor balance, which is hard to treat with regular medication. Weak leg muscles also contribute to poor balance and frequent falls in PD. We think a combination of two exercises—Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) and Instability Resistance Training (IRT)—could help improve balance and muscle strength in people with PD. This study will last six weeks, with progress checked before and after the intervention as well as six weeks following the last visit. We’ll measure how well participants adhere to the program, side effects, changes in balance, strength, mobility, quality of life, and other health factors. Our long-term aim is to create better treatments to help people with PD stay steady and slow down the disease’s impact.