Title

Physical Therapist Management of Parkinson Disease

Authoring Organization

American Physical Therapy Association

Publication Month/Year

December 27, 2021

Last Updated Month/Year

October 14, 2024

Document Type

Guideline

Country of Publication

US

Document Objectives

This guideline's focus is on the management of adult idiopathic, typical Parkinson disease. It is not intended to address management of individuals with atypical Parkinsonism disorders or other neurodegenerative conditions. 

Target Patient Population

Adult idiopathic, typical parkinsons disease

Target Provider Population

Physical therapists, and physical therapist assistants

PICO Questions

  1. In patients with Parkinson’s, are aerobic interventions more effective than no/other treatments in affecting patient outcomes?

  2. In patients with Parkinson’s, are resistance interventions more effective than no/other treatments in affecting patient outcomes?

  3. In patients with Parkinson’s, are balance interventions more effective than no/other treatments in affecting patient outcomes?

  4. In patients with Parkinson’s, are stretching/flexibility interventions more effective than no/other treatments in affecting patient outcomes?

  5. In patients with Parkinson’s, does cueing affect outcomes?

  6. In patients with Parkinson’s, do community exercise programs affect outcomes?

  7. In patients with Parkinson’s, does gait training improve patient outcomes?

  8. In patients with Parkinson’s, does task specific training improve functional outcomes?

  9. In patients with Parkinson’s, which prognostic factors affect outcomes?

  10. . In patients with Parkinson’s, does physical therapy using a behavioral change approach improve physical therapy or exercise outcomes?

  11. In patients with Parkinson’s, does interdisciplinary care improve outcomes?

  12. In patients with Parkinson’s, which specific motor learning strategies/interventions improve patient outcomes?

  13. In patients with Parkinson’s, does receiving care from an expert physical therapist, improve outcomes?

  14. In patients with Parkinson’s, does physical therapist management, augmented with mobile health technology, improve patient outcomes?

  15. In patients with Parkinson’s with deep brain stimulation (DBS), does pre- and/or post-physical therapy improve outcomes?

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Female, Adult, Older adult

Intended Users

Nurse, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Rehabilitation

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D010300 - Parkinson Disease

Keywords

physical therapy, Parkinson's disease

Source Citation

American Physical Therapy Association. Clinical Practice Guideline for the Physical Therapist Management of Parkinson Disease. Physical Therapy, 2021 Dec 28;pzab302, https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzab302