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SUPPORT

2024-05-16T13:21:19-05:00

Help Our Fort Worth Community to Sustain the Endeavor

Endeavor Parkinsonology, including the resources and research provided through Dr. Watts’ laboratory, will need the Fort Worth community to support its sustained goals. You can help achieve the dream of free access to resources for people with PD by considering the following philanthropic opportunities.

If you are interested in making a tax deductible gift of any amount in support of Endeavor Parkinsonology, please contact:

  • Kendall Riddell, Director of Development
  • Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  • 817-257-5032
  • kendall.riddell@tcu.edu

ANNUAL GIFTS

Laryngeal Function Laboratory Gift

Help Dr. Watts and his team better understand how PD effects voice and swallowing, and to find better ways of assessing and treating PD to improve lives. Your gift will support the ongoing research in the Laryngeal Function Laboratory.

Moving Parkinson’s Gift

This gift will allow Endeavor Parkinsonology to provide free access to an exercise class in Fort Worth for people with Parkinson’s disease. We use these funds to sponsor classes designed specifically for people with PD at different levels of ability.

Endeavor Pakinsonology Gift

Give a gift which will fund exercise programs and Parkinson’s lectures for an entire year. This gift will create access to movement activities for people with PD at no cost through sponsorships of community exercise instructors, while allowing us to bring national and international experts in PD to Fort Worth to teach our community how we can improve lives.

TRANSFORMATIONAL ENDOWMENT GIFTS

Endowed Research Laboratory

Research creating new knowledge is critical for advancing our understanding of Parkinson’s diseases.  Through your endowment of the Laryngeal Function Laboratory, you will be ensuring that researchers at TCU, both faculty and students, have access to the appropriate resources to create new knowledge through cutting edge research and scholarly endeavors. In addition, you will be supporting research which benefits the Fort Worth community, who actively participate in the ongoing research in the Laryngeal Function Lab and benefit from the new knowledge that research is creating. By endowing this lab, you will also be creating a naming opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for your family.

Endowed Professorship / Chair

TCU graduates place tremendous value on relationships with their professors. These connections have and will continue to be at the center of the TCU experience. TCU seeks out professors who have a passion for teaching as well as for conducting research – a combination that keeps them at the top of their fields. The opportunity to endow this faculty position creates a permanent resource for both TCU and Fort Worth. With a focus on research and teaching in Parkinson’s disease, this position will ensure that TCU and Fort Worth have a teacher and scholar who is creating new knowledge and disseminating knowledge to our community. In addition, endowed faculty positions allow us to attract eminent national and international scholars. In turn, outstanding scholars attract other notable faculty and the brightest students. Endowed positions, such as endowed deanships, as well as chairs, professorships, and professional-in-residence and artist-in-residence positions, are carefully targeted toward TCU’s mission and aspirations. By endowing this faculty position, you will also be creating a naming opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for your family.

SUPPORT2024-05-16T13:21:19-05:00

RESEARCH

2024-10-16T13:44:51-05:00

RESEARCH

At TCU, Dr. Watts directs the Laryngeal Function Laboratory, which serves as the research arm of Endeavor Parkinsonology. Dr. Watts’ research is committed to creating new knowledge through research to improve how we assess and treat voice and swallowing impairments experienced by people with PD.

Dr. Watts is currently seeking people with PD to volunteer as participants in his research. If you have an interest in helping Endeavor Parkinsonology discover ways to fight against PD through research, please contact Dr. Watts at c.watts@tcu.edu.

RESEARCH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: We are investigating how Parkinson’s disease effects voice and swallowing. (TCU IRB#2022-205). Changes to voice and swallowing are common in PD but factors related to how they change over time are not well understood. Our aim is to measure voice and swallowing function and determine what factors are associated with changes that are different from normal aging. We are recruiting volunteers with PD and those without PD so that we can compare Parkinson’s with aging. For more information about volunteering please contact Dr. Watts at c.watts@tcu.edu.

RESEARCH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNIY: We are investigating the effects of unique swallowing exercise program on the safety of swallowing in People with Parkinson’s disease (TCU IRB#2024-202). This is a clinical intervention study where participants will complete clinician-guided swallowing exercises over a six week period. Our aim is to determine if people with PD who have changes to laryngeal closure speed during swallowing (e.g., difficulty getting food or liquid down) can improve swallowing safety through this exercise program. For more information about volunteering please contact Dr. Watts at c.watts@tcu.edu.

RESEARCH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: We are investigating the effects of physical activity on inflammation in Parkinson’s Disease (TCU IRB#2024-59). Neuroinflammation is one of the theories attempting to explain the onset and progression of PD. Our aim is to investigate how levels of physical activity (“exercise”) influence inflammation in the body by measuring levels of an anti-inflammatory protein called Clusterin, which we are able to measure in blood samples. We are recruiting volunteers regardless of your activity level. For more information about volunteering please contact Kailie McGee at Kailie.mcgee@tcu.edu.

PARKINSONOLOGY RESEARCH

The overarching goal of this line of research is to expand human knowledge of how Parkinson’s disease (PD) effects laryngeal function in voice and swallowing to inform the development of more effective treatments to rehabilitate and/or sustain those functions. We are specifically interested in how voice and swallowing impairments manifest in different clinical phenotypes (e.g., subtypes) of PD. Our research investigates how voice and swallowing are influenced by PD tremor phenotype (e.g., tremor dominant vs. non-tremor dominant), age of onset (e.g., late onset vs. younger onset), sex, and years post-onset. A major aim of this research is to increase our understanding of how and why laryngeal function in voice and swallowing is impaired heterogeneously (differently) across the large population of people with PD.

PARKINSONOLOGY PUBLICATIONS BY DR. WATTS

Watts CR, Thijs Z, King A, Carr JC, Porter R. (2023). A pilot study of the effect of a non-contact boxing exercise intervention on respiratory pressure and phonation aerodynamics in people with Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Clinical Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37510921/

Thijs Z, Zhang Y, Van Lierde K, Vanryckeghem M, Watts CR (2023). Self-perceived affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions associated with voice use in people with Parkinson’s disease: A pilot study. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35695084/

Dumican M, Watts CR, Drulia T, Zhang Y. (2023). Dysphagia presentation, airway invasion, and gender differences in a clinically based sample of people with Parkinson’s disease. Dysphagia, 38(1):353-366. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35809095/

Watts CR, Zhang Y (2022). Progression of Self-Perceived Speech and Swallowing Impairment in Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease: Longitudinal Analysis of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale. Journal of Speech, Language, Hearing Research, 65(1): 146-158. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34851686/

Thijs Z, Watts CR (2022). Perceptual Characterization of Voice Quality in Non-Advanced Stages of Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Voice,6(2): 293.e11−293.e18 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32703725/

Dumican M, Watts CR (2022). Swallow Safety and Laryngeal Kinematics: A Comparison of Dysphagia between Parkinson’s Disease and Cerebrovascular Accident. Journal of Parkinson’s disease,2022;12(7):2147-2159. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36120789/

Thijs Z, Zhang Y, Van Lierde K, Vanryckeghem M, Watts CR (2022). Partner Perception of Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive Reactions to Voice Use in People with Parkinson’s Disease. Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 9(7) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35860426/

Kim J, Watts CR (2021). A Comparison of Swallow-Related Submandibular Contraction Amplitude and Duration in People with Parkinson’s Disease and Healthy Controls. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32466679/

Panzone L, Watts CR. (2020). Regulation of Transglottal Airflow in Speakers with Parkinson’s Disease. Journal of Voice, 34 (6): 961.e1-961.e7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31350111

Dumican M, Watts CR (2020). Predicting Airway Invasion Using Screening Tools and Laryngeal Kinematics in People with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study. Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32538868/

Burk B, Watts CR (2019). The Effect of Parkinson’s Disease Tremor Phenotype on Cepstral Peak Prominence and Transglottal Airflow in Vowels and Speech. Journal of Voice, 33(4): 580.e11-580.e19.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29472149

Watts CR (2016). A Retrospective Study of Long-Term Treatment Outcomes for Reduced Vocal Intensity in Hypokinetic Dysarthria. BMC Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders. 16:2. eCollection doi: 10.1186/s12901-016-0022-8.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26839511

Rousseau B, Watts CR. (2002). Susceptibility of speakers with Parkinson disease to delayed auditory feedback. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 10(1): 41-49.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Watts3

Watts CR, VanRyckeghem M. (2001). Laryngeal dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BMC Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders, (1).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11722802

Watts CR, Dagenais P. (2001). Effects of attentional load on speech rate reduction in subgroups of speakers with Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Medical Speech-Language Pathology, 9(1): 55-61.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Watts3

 

RESEARCH2024-10-16T13:44:51-05:00

RESOURCES

2024-06-11T13:39:45-05:00

RESOURCES

Endeavor Parkinsonology is committed to providing the Fort Worth community with information regarding resources for People with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones. Below are wellness, rehabilitation, and other health care related resource located in Fort Worth and the immediate surrounding areas. These entities are not sponsored or supported by Endeavor Parkinsonology, rather their contact details are provided as an informational resource to serve the Fort Worth Community.

EXERCISE CLASSES FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

BOXING

See the following video on Boxing for people with PD from the Michael J. Fox Foundation: bit.ly/2G2xNGl

Big Heart Center for Parkinson’s Wellness
217 Harwood Rd., Suite 215
Bedford, TX 76021
Phone: 817-393-7740
Fax: 682-334-7510

Services offered: Physical Therapy (LSVT BIG, PWR!, dry needling, balance and falls, Slip Trainer, etc.)
Speech Therapy (LSVT LOUD, Speak Out!, specialized cognition training, etc.)
Group classes: Cardio, Rock Steady Boxing, Balance Boot Camp, PWR! Moves, PWR! Circuit, voice and  cognition classes coming in April
Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine Consults

We offer in person, virtual or home visits.

Dr. Alison Geymer, PT, DPT
Becky Morgan, CCC-SLP

Punching Out Parkinson’s
Paulie Ayala’s University of Hard Knocks Gym
7616 Camp Bowie West
Fort Worth, TX 76116
(817) 731-4665
www.punchingoutparkinsons.org

Rock Steady Boxing Affiliates – DFW
UFC Gym North Richland Hills
9155 Blvd 25
North Richland Hills TX 76180
Rick Gonzales
(817) 323-9127
ufcgymnrh@rsbaffiliate.com
$69/month

Robson Ranch
9416 Ed Robson Circle
Denton, TX 76207
Wally Sagui
940-465-1008
wally.sagui@gmail.com
$5/class

9Round Fitness 10+ locations in F.W.
900 S. Main Street, Suite 340
Keller, Texas 76248
(817) 929-8913
www.9round.com/fitness/keller-tx-x4848
Contact James Riddle (817) 675-3412
$20/month

RockBox Fitness Southlake
Rock Steady Boxing
100 North Kimball Ave, Suite 105
Southlake, TX  76092
Mallory Spoonts, PT, DPT
(214) 206-4252
Southlake@rsbaffiliate.com

CYCLING

See the following web post on Cycling for people with PD from Bicycling.com: www.bicycling.com/news/g20011415/-16/

Pedaling for Parkinson’s
Airport Area YMCA
3524 Central Drive
Bedford, TX 76021
(817) 571-3371
www.ymcafw.org/locations/airport-area-ymca
Contact Michael Drapper Director: mdraper@ymcafw.org
Classes run for 12 weeks beginning each April
Free

Win the War Against Parkinson (WWAP) Spin Class
Cyclone Indoor Cycling Experience
1724 E. Broad Street, Suite 100
Mansfield, TX 76063
(817) 769-2723
www.cycloneindoorcycling.com

YOGA

Elemental Yoga Therapy
714 W Magnolia Ave,
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Contact: Michael Dardanes
630-269-4450
michael@elementalyogatherapy.com

Tribe Wellness
100 N. Cottonwood Drive, Suite 018
Richardson, TX 75080
Contact: Dr. Michael Braitsch
214-702-6559
tribewellnessllc@gmail.com

DANCE

See the following web article on Dancing for people with PD from Stanford University: stan.md/2HYgJTR

Dance for Parkinson’s
Classes held at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth
1301 Pennsylvania Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
(817) 250-2000

GENERAL EXERCISE

See the following video on the benefits of Exercise for people with PD from the Michael J. Fox Foundation: bit.ly/2DPuVdu

Fort Worth Balance Therapy Center

Dr. Valerie Johnson, PT, DPT specializing in Parkinson’s, imbalance, and dizziness
Virtual & In-home visits, group exercise classes, online classes for PD
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Website: www.balancetherapytoday.com
Phone: (214) 356-8123
Email: Valerie@balancetherapyllc.com

Parkinson’s Support Group of Tarrant County Exercise Class

Classes held at Broadway Baptist Church
305 W. Broadway Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
(682) 216-7947
www.psgtc.org
FREE!

Tribe Wellness

100 N. Cottonwood Drive, Suite 018
Richardson, TX 75080
Contact: Dr. Michael Braitsch
214-702-6559
tribewellnessllc@gmail.com

Clear Cut Ortho Rehab & Diagnostics

1001 12th Ave #201
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Contact: Ken Wheeler
817-286-4818
info@clearcutortho.com

VOICE / SPEECH / SWALLOWING

See the following web article on voice, speech, and swallowing in people with PD from the Michael J. Fox Foundation: https://www.michaeljfox.org/understanding-parkinsons/living-with-pd/topic.php?speech-swallowing

Miller Speech & Hearing Clinic
TCU – Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders
3305 West Cantey Street
Fort Worth, TX 76129
Phone: (817) 257-7620
Website: harriscollege.tcu.edu/centers-institutes/miller-speech-hearing-clinic

Beth Watson-Sharp, MS, CCC-SLP
Coordinator, Speech-Language Pathology
Harris Methodist Hospital
1301 Pennsylvania Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76104
Phone: (817) 250-3156
Email: BethWatson@TexasHealth.org

a Tempo Voice Center
6300 Ridglea Place Suite 617
Fort Worth, TX 76116
Phones: 817-377-9900 or 817-262-3773
Website: http://www.atempovoicecenter.com/
Email: atempovoicecenter@gmail.com

Parkinson Voice Project
646 North Coit Road, Suite 2250
Richardson, Texas 75080
Phones: 833-375-6500 or 469-375-6500
Website: https://parkinsonvoiceproject.org/
Email: CONTACT@ParkinsonVoiceProject.org

SUPPORT GROUPS

Harris Methodist Hospital – Parkinson’s Support Group
The support group meets from 3 to 4 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month at the Heart Center South Classroom (Classroom S). For more information, call Beth Watson at (817) 250-2760.

Parkinson’s Support Group of Tarrant County 
Exercise classes are held on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 10:30 AM in  Broadway Baptist Church, 305 W Broadway, Fort Worth, Texas, 76104. The Caregivers Support Group meets on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at the same time as the exercise class.  The Hurst-Euless-Bedford exercise class starts at 12:30 on the second Tuesday of the month, with an educational meeting at 1:30 followed by a sharing and caring session for the caregivers and those with Parkinson’s at the Bedford Public Library 2424 Forest Ridge Drive.
Contact: info@psgtc.org
Phone:   Steve Smith (817) 821-7269
Phone:   Vicky Stringer (817) 991-3741
Website: www.psgtc.org

NEUROLOGISTS

Leila Bostan Shirin, MD
Tarrant Neurology Consultants
713 Grainger Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-336-3968
Dr. Shirin completed a fellowship in movement disorders at UT Southwestern

Madhavi Thomas, MD
North Texas Movement Disorders Institute
6100 Harris Pkwy, Ste 380
Fort Worth, TX 76132
214-701-3145
Dr. Thomas completed a fellowship in movement disorders at the Baylor College of Medicine

Halim Fadil, MD
Texas Health Resources
Neurology and Movement Disorders Center of North Texas
801 W Road to Six Flags St Ste 127
Arlington, TX 76012
(817) 697-8000
Dr. Fadil completed a neurology fellowship at the University of California – Davis School of Medicine

Jerome Lisk, MD
MD Neurology
4931 Long Prairie Rd, Ste 100
Flower Mound, TX 75028
972-420-9200
Dr. Lisk completed a fellowship in movement disorders at the University of Texas at Houston

Syed Hussain, MD
Kane Hall Barry Neurology
41305 Airport Freeway, Ste 205
Bedford, TX 76021
817-267-6290
Dr. Hussain completed a fellowship in movement disorders at the University of Iowa

Mary Quiceno, MD, FAAN
UNT Health Science Center
855 Montgomery Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 735-0329
Dr. Quiceno specializes in Lewey Body Dementia in Parkinson’s.

Shilpa Chitnis, MD, Ph.D.
UT Health East Texas Neurological Institute
700 Olympic Plaza, Suite 904
Tyler, TX  75701
903-535-6092
Dr. Chitnis completed fellowship training in movement disorders at Louisiana State University Medical Center.

Padraig O’Suilleabhain, MD
Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Department of Neurology
James W. Aston Ambulatory Care Center
5303 Harry Hines Blvd., 8th Floor
Dallas, Texas 75390
214-645-8800

Charlece Hughes, DO
Clinical Neuroscience Pa Group Practice
1307 8th Ave #408
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-921-4191
Dr. Hughes treats Parkinson’s and is  Deep Brain Stimulator certified.

NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS / PSYCHIATRISTS / PSYCHOLOGISTS

Scott Winter, MD
UNTHSC Health Pavilion
855 Montgomery St.,4th Floor
Ft. Worth, TX. 76107

April R. Wiechmann, PhD
UNTHSC Health Pavilion
855 Montgomery St.,4th Floor
Ft. Worth, TX. 76107

James R. Hall PhD
UNTHSC Health Pavilion
855 Montgomery St.,4th Floor
Ft. Worth, TX. 76107

CHIROPRACTORS

Jamienne Price
Mindful Chiropractic
580 Decker Drive Suite 201
Irving, TX, 75062
(972) 998-4100
mindfulcw.com

RESOURCES2024-06-11T13:39:45-05:00

EDUCATION

2024-05-16T13:04:30-05:00

EDUCATION =  EMPOWERMENT

Education is a key tool for fighting against Parkinson’s disease is a primary element of patient-centered care. More importantly, educating people with PD about the characteristics, assessments, treatments, and effective strategies for fighting against the disease can improve the lives of those with Parkinson’s and their loved ones.

A major goal of Endeavor Parkinsonology is to provide educational opportunities for the Fort Worth community to build our collective knowledge of Parkinson’s disease. Three to four symposiums are held each year on the campus of TCU. Past, present, and future symposiums are listed below. As with all resources offered by Endeavor Parkinsonology, these are educational seminars are offered at no cost to the community. To reserve a seat or get more information, please contact Dr. Watts and his team.

The Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease Speaker Series
Indu Subramanian, M.D.
August 31, 2024

Living Well with Parkinson’s Disease

Learn more and register here: https://harriscollege.tcu.edu/research/endowed-lectureship.php

Dr. Indu Subramanian

The Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease Speaker Series
Bastiaan Bloem, M.D.
March 26, 2024

Colors of Holistic Care for People with Parkinson’s Disease

See recorded lecture here: https://youtu.be/ynA4Uml8_ko

Dr. Michael Okun

The Zoota Family Leaders in Parkinson’s Disease Speaker Series
Michael Okun, M.D.
August 19th, 2023

See recorded lecture here: https://youtu.be/4VfGoekYBmM

Dr. Michael Okun

A Stronger Future: It’s Never Too Late To Exercise!

Speaker: Josh Carr, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology
Texas Christian University
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2022
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Zoom
Christopher Watts, PhD

Healthy Aging and Parkinson’s: What’s Nutrition Got To Do With It?

Speaker: Samantha Davis, MS, RD, LD
Associate Professor of Professional Practice
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Texas Christian University
Date: Saturday, March 8, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Texas Christian University
Annie Richardson Bass Building, room 1207 (1st floor)
2800 W Bowie St   Fort Worth, Texas 76109
Christopher Watts, PhD

Parkinson’s Disease: More Than a Shaking Palsy

Speaker: Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Associate Director, Neurology Residency Program
Director, Deep Brain Stimulator Program
Baylor College of Medicine
Date: Friday, December 7, 2018
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Texas Christian University
Smith Entrepreneur Hall – Room 104B
West Lowden Street (TCU Campus)
Fort Worth TX 76129
Joohi Jimenez-Shahed, MD

Swallowing in Parkinson’s Disease: What Happens and What You Can Do About It!

Speaker: Christopher R. Watts, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Professor & Director
Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Texas Christian University
Dee J. Kelly Alumni & Visitor’s Center
2820 Stadium Drive, Fort Worth TX 76129
Christopher Watts, PhD

EDUCATION2024-05-16T13:04:30-05:00

EXERCISE

2024-04-23T10:57:30-05:00

EXERCISE

Regular physical exercise is one of the most important activities individuals with Parkinson’s can do to actively fight against the disease. The Fort Worth area is home to a number of exercise programs designed specifically for people with PD, and can be accommodated for most levels of physical ability. The classes below have been attended by many people connected to Endeavor Parkinsonology for multiple years. For more information, contact the class instructors for each activity (see e-mails, phone # below).

Exercise Classes for People with PD

PUNCHING OUT PARKINSON’S

Punching Out Parkinson’s boxing classes are offered by Paulie Ayala at his School of Hard Knocks gym multiple times each week. (https://punchingoutparkinsons.org). Some sponsorships to support attendance are available.

If you would like consider getting connected to Punching Out Parkinson’s, contact them at the following:

For more information contact:

info@punchingoutparkinsons.org 817-731-4665

VOCAL POWER

Now Online! Participate in the Vocal Exercise Class from your home computer

Contact: Beth Watson, MS, CCC-SLP; bethwatson@texashealth.org; (817) 250-3156

Vocal Power teaches people with Parkinson’s disease vocal exercises designed to increase vocal strength and stamina. In a group setting, participants will learn and practice sets of vocal exercises which are performed with conscious effort on vocal intensity (loudness) and pitch flexibility. Participants will also be guided on home-based exercises to complement the weekly group classes.

PWR!MOVES FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

Exercise class using balls

Alliance Gym, 10357 Alta Vista rd., suite 351, Fort Worth, 76244

Contact: Alison Geymer, PT, DPT, Rock Steady Box cert., geymer22@gmail.com, (682) 593-1374

Balance Therapy, 7148 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76123

Contact:  Valerie Johnson, PT, DPT., www.balancetherapytoday.com (214) 356-8123

PWR!Moves is a PD-specific skill training program to maintain or restore skills that deteriorate and interfere with everyday movements. The BASIC4 | PWR!Moves are performed with large amplitude, high effort, and attention to action in multiple postures (floor, all 4’s, sitting, and standing). They specifically target “4” skills shown by research to interfere with mobility in people with PD (antigravity extension, weight shifting, axial mobility, and transitional movements).

Inclusion Criteria for PWR!Moves classes:

  1. No falls in the past 3 months
  2. Walk without an assistive device
  3. Able to get in/out of a chair without assistance
  4. Able to get on/off the floor without assistance

EMPOWER PARKINSON’S FIGHT CLUB – BOXING/CARDIO/STRENGTH

Boxing Exercise Class

Alliance Gym, 10357 Alta Vista rd., suite 351, Fort Worth, 76244

Contact: Alison Geymer, PT, DPT, Rock Steady Box cert., geymer22@gmail.com, (682) 593-1374

This exercise program attacks Parkinson’s at its vulnerable neurological points. While focusing on overall fitness, workouts include: focus mitts, heavy bags, speed bags, double-ended bags, jump rope, core work, calisthenics and circuit weight training. No boxing experience is necessary and people of all ages are invited to participate.  A “Cornerman” is required to assist any participants who answer “yes” to any of the following: requires an assistive device to walk with, has significant balance issues and/or has had more than one fall in the past 3 months, has difficulty following directions without repetition.

BALANCE BOOT CAMP

Alliance Gym, 10357 Alta Vista rd., suite 351, Fort Worth, 76244

Contact: Alison Geymer, PT, DPT, LSVT, PWR!, geymer22@gmail.com; (682) 593-1374

Balance Boot Camp is the perfect class for anyone who has noticed they aren’t as steady on their feet as they used to be and wants to improve their balance. This class is for all levels. All exercises can be modified for any level of mobility by our Physical Therapist to make exercise safe but challenging for all participants. Loss of balance with Parkinson’s disease is a complex and challenging issue and not always caused by the same factors.  Balance Boot Camp will focus on multiple aspects of balance control: agility, strength, postural control, flexibility, coordination, dual tasking (being able to do two things at once; or being able to stay balanced when distracted), techniques to decrease freezing, and more.

TRIBE WELLNESS

100 N. Cottonwood Drive, suite 108, Richardson, 75080

https://www.tribewellness.org/

Contact: Dr. Michael Braitsch, PT, DPT,  tribewellnessllc@gmail.com; (214) 702-6559

Tribe Wellness offers group exercise programs steeped in evidence-based exercise interventions from the best leading research in physical therapy and exercise science. While programs are not to be confused with individualized physical therapy services, Tribe Welness uses ideas from the best available research to create a community experience.

EXERCISE2024-04-23T10:57:30-05:00

TEAM

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TEAM

Christopher R. Watts, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Christopher Watts, PhD

Dr. Watts is Professor and Director of the Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders at TCU. He is a speech-language pathologist specializing in laryngeal function (aka, “the voicebox”) in voice production and swallowing. Dr. Watts’ program of research studies how Parkinson’s disease affects voice and swallowing, with the aim of developing better assessments and treatments to improve the lives of those fighting against the disease.  In addition to his research and administrative roles at TCU, Dr. Watts teaches and mentors future leaders in the speech-language pathology programs. Dr. Watts serves as the Team Leader for Endeavor Parkinsonology and researcher in the Laryngeal Function Lab at TCU.

Zoë Thijs, Ph.D.

Zoë Thijs is an assistant professor at Milloy University in Long Island, New York. Dr. Thijs completed her doctoral studies at TCU with Dr. Watts in the laryngeal function lab. Prior to her her Ph.D., Dr. Thijs obtained a bachelor and masters degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Ghent, Belgium. Zoë’s clinical and research interests center on voice production and voice disorders. Her recent published work has identified epidemiological pattern of voice disorders treated in a community voice clinics and the perceptual characteristics of voice quality in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Matt Dumican, Ph.D., CCC-SLP

Debra Machos

Matt Dumican is an assistant professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. Dr. Dumican completed his doctoral studies at TCU with Dr. Watts in the laryngeal function lab. Dr. Dumican earned a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences & disorders from Sacred Heart University, and a masters degree in speech-language pathology from TCU. Dr. Dumican’s clinical and research interests center on laryngeal function in swallowing, specifically dysphagia in neurological disorders. His recent published work has identified patterns of laryngeal closure during swallowing in people with PD and comparisons of dysphagia signs in cardiovascular accident (CVA – stroke) patients compared to PD.

TEAM2023-05-08T08:34:46-05:00
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