Objective: To develop a consensus statement regarding the incorporation of rehabilitation in Parkinson’s (PD) care.

Background: As a complex, progressive disorder, PD can impact daily function, quality of life, and independence. Rehabilitation plays a crucial role in improving symptoms and reducing disability. However, rehabilitative care in PD is often under-recognized, restricted to later disease stages, and limited by a lack of consensus, despite positive effects on motor and non-motor symptoms and quality of life (1-3).

Method: An international, multidisciplinary Task Force of 21 experts from 7 countries was formed and met virtually during 2021-2022 to examine rehabilitation topics, therapy guidelines, gaps and needs in the field. The Task Force included experts in PD; rehabilitation disciplines of occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech language pathology (SLP), psychology/neuropsychology (NP), nursing, physiatry, and rehabilitation science; people living with PD and care partners; and Parkinson’s Foundation representatives. A modified Delphi process was used to develop consensus-based recommendations for rehabilitative care in PD.

Results: The expert-based consensus statement outlines key tenets of rehabilitative care and proposes recommendations for its use, including its multidisciplinary approach, team structure, coordination, timing and settings for rehabilitative services. Principles include a person-centered, collaborative, goal-oriented, and dynamic approach that, where appropriate, are rooted in evidence-base and neurobiological mechanisms related to PD. The task force proposes that rehabilitative services should be considered even at diagnosis and throughout the course of PD and be integrated with other medical, surgical, and psychosocial interventions. Recommendations for ways to enhance PD-specific knowledge and skills for healthcare professionals and incorporate rehabilitation discipline-specific assessments and interventions for OT, PT, SLP and NP across all PD stages were developed and summarized.

Conclusion: Rehabilitative care is an important intervention in comprehensive treatment of PD and has potential benefits throughout all PD stages. Greater education and awareness of the positive effects of rehabilitation, and future incorporating task force recommendations will add to a greater evidence-base for rehabilitation interventions.

References: 1. Nakache MJ, Keus SH, Oostendorp RA, Overeem S, Mulleners W, Bloem BR, Munneke M (2009) Allied health care in Parkinson’s disease: referral, consultation, and professional expertise. Mov Disord 24, 282-286.
2. Roberts AC, Rafferty MR, Wu SS, Miao G, Cubillos F, Simuni T (2021) Patterns and predictors of referrals to allied health services for individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A Parkinson’s foundation (PF) QII study. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 83, 115-122.
3. Ferrazzoli D, Ortelli P, Iansek R, Volpe D (2022) Rehabilitation in movement disorders: From basic mechanisms to clinical strategies. Handb Clin Neurol 184, 341-355.

« Back to 2023 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/an-international-consensus-statement-for-rehabilitation-care-in-parkinsons-disease/