Physical therapist Katie Nathan shares her journey of building a successful business focused on Parkinson's patients. She talks about transitioning from in-person to online services, networking strategies for growing her practice, launching an online membership program, managing work-life balance, and tips for healthcare providers to prioritize their own health.

We’re back for another episode this week! This one is bringing you practical clinical tools you can start incorporating right now. It’s based on new evidence with intense exercise and its effect on increasing dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. While Rogue has always been known to implement the research into practice, a transition at the clinic and inspiration from a recent article (small “n” yet still inspiring) results in a new class format that just started at Rogue PT and Wellness, Claire’s gym for people with PD. Claire introduces the new high-intensity class at Rogue called "Hi Fi" for “high intensity” and “functional.” It incorporates cardio, strength and functional exercises into intervals with modifications. The format follows recent research on intense exercise improving neuromelanin in Parkinson's. Find the link below to the full text free article. Hi Fi includes a warm-up before intervals alternating between two high-intensity exercises and five skilled exercises. Exercises target mobility, balance and strength. Visual cues and straps help improve participants' form. Claire discusses adapting the class based on themes like last week's focus on mobility. Exercises included burpees, lunges and power moves using straps and chairs. Check it out and let us know what you learned and what you’re going to try! Intense exercise increases dopamine transporter and neuromelanin concentrations in the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson’s disease. Published 09 February 2024

Chanda Hinton, Executive Director of the Chanda Center for Health & Wellness, discusses her advocacy for accessible healthcare for individuals with disabilities. She highlights challenges in the medical model, promotes holistic care, and advocates for Medicaid coverage of alternative therapies. Chanda emphasizes the importance of disability competence among healthcare providers and representation in mainstream media.

On this episode of the I Love Neuro podcast, host Erin Gallardo sits down with guest Joy Cochran to discuss her business Joy Explorations and an upcoming Parkinson's disease retreat. Joy started Joy Explorations in 2018 with a goal of empowering older adults and those with neurological conditions through adaptive outdoor activities and movement. She found many of her physical therapy clients were not continuing the activities they enjoyed after discharge. Joy wanted to help people live life to the fullest outside of the clinic setting. Joy Explorations now offers group classes, one-on-one sessions, and "exploration days" where clients can try kayaking, biking on adaptive trikes, and more. Joy assesses each client's needs and works with them to problem solve challenges in a personalized way. In September, Joy will host a four-day Parkinson's disease retreat focused on exercise, education, and immersion in healthy lifestyle strategies. The retreat will incorporate kayaking, biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities alongside workshops on managing non-motor symptoms. Joy's goal is to help participants realize they can do more than they think and leave with new skills and friendships. The podcast provides valuable insights into Joy's process of planning the retreat budget, contracts, and activities. Overall, the episode offers inspiration and practical tips for anyone interested in hosting health and wellness retreats. Learn more about Joy and the retreat here: www.joyexplorations.com https://joyexplorations.mykajabi.com/pd-retreat @joyexplorations on Instagram and FB

Emily Duval Ledger shares tips on shedding societal expectations and living a happier life. They discuss distinguishing external 'shoulds' from internal motivations, finding work-life balance, and prioritizing self-care in business decisions.

Okay, so let’s address this head on: No one wants to fall. But falls do happen. Especially for people who have trouble with their balance. So wouldn’t it be great if when someone did fall, they knew how to roll or land in a way that minimized injury? That’s what we’re talking about today with physiotherapist Naomi Casiro of NeuroFit BC. She runs one on one and group therapy sessions for people with PD teaching them the fundamentals of controlling their movement and momentum in order to minimize risk.   In the show we’ll address: The actual format and progression of classes/sessions focused on fall training The method Naomi uses to hone in on what type of falling to treat What the MOST important factor is when teaching someone how to fall well What the contraindications are for this type of training What equipment is needed and how to get started How to get your clients on board to try this training with you You can reach out to Naomi and learn more about the fall training courses she teaches for healthcare professionals here: www.neurofitbc.com  www.neurofitbc.com/courses Free exercise videos: www.neurofitbc.com/move  naomi@neurofitbc.com

There are a lot of reasons you can go into private practice. Most of which have to do with the desire to provide care in a different way than you’ve seen in your community. But the way you set up your practice can be as unique as you are. One challenging question most neuro clinicians face when setting up their private practice is what to do about Medicare? As policies with Medicare continue to change, many opt to enroll in Medicare as a non-participating provider. This means you work with Medicare beneficiaries to deliver covered services but you bill differently. As a non-participating provider with Medicare you’re able to collect up front from patients, submit your claim to Medicare, and Medicare reimburses the patient for the visit (rather than you since you collected your money up front). There are pros and cons about going this route. In this episode we talk to physical therapist Tyler Horton of Synapse Neuro Rehab about his business model and why he decided to become a non-participating provider with Medicare. Tyler has been running his business this way for a few years and helps other neuro business owners who want to become non-participating with Medicare navigate this path.   Website: https://synapseneurorehab.com/   Instagram: @synapseneurorehab  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SynapseNeuroRehab/ dr.tyler@synapseneurorehab.com  Join the free slack group, NeuroBiz Besties: https://forms.gle/32hJLWmsEmEW5Vs47

Dr. JJ Mowder-Tinney, a physical therapist and academic specializing in low-cost healthcare strategies, shares powerful insights on making impactful changes in therapy without breaking the bank. She discusses innovative, budget-friendly techniques to enhance patient engagement and highlights real patient stories showcasing creativity in therapy. The conversation emphasizes empowering clients through personalized strategies and adapting common tools to overcome rehabilitation challenges, proving that meaningful improvements can come from resourcefulness and collaboration.

Dr. Daniel Corcos, PhD discusses his research on how exercise can modify Parkinson's progression. They talk about the SPARX3 study, measuring HR peak safely, and resources for physicians. The episode explores personalized intensity progression and the benefits of exercise for Parkinson's patients.

Dr. Adriaan Louw, a pain science expert, discusses incorporating pain neuroscience education into practice, identifying readiness for change in pain, using key outcome assessments, and balancing pain and function in therapy. He emphasizes empowering patients through clear language, addressing pain beyond structural abnormalities, and promoting holistic understanding. The podcast explores the transition from musculoskeletal therapy to pain management, challenges in bridging orthopedics and neurology, and the impact of language on healthcare communication.