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Our program offers a variety of services including clinical care, research, education and community outreach. We offer comprehensive clinical visits for new patients and ongoing treatments, customized early-stage evaluations, opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and individualized rehabilitation therapy services in addition to fitness and education services.
We Treat
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- Parkinson’s disease
- Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes including:
- Corticobasal Degeneration
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Dystonia
- Functional movement disorders
- Gait disorders
- Huntington’s disease
- Lewy body dementia
- Tremor and essential tremor
Clinical Care
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Our Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders (PDMD) program cares for patients collaboratively to create individualized care plans. Your care team includes physiatrists, physical and occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, advanced practice providers, nurses, and many others. Together, we see patients in a variety of ways, but always with a shared goal of optimizing your outcomes and improving your function.
The interdisciplinary PDMD team approach of our clinic focuses on your best outcome at the forefront of all evaluations and plans. Patient care assessments and plans are made in real time, and clinicians meet with each patient to develop an individualized treatment plan to address your specific goals and make recommendations for next best steps. Our translational model utilizes research studies and the most current data to drive our approach and the variety of team members allows us to assess your individualized needs.
Early Intervention Program
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Current research shows that an active lifestyle, with regular exercise at the right intensity, can benefit those living with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. We want to partner with you to build an active lifestyle and assist with any future needs as they arise.
Our program is tailored to be proactive and to optimize function and enhance quality of life by:
- Performing individualized evaluations
- Assessing walking, balance, posture, fine-motor skills, cognition and communication among other areas
- Creating customized exercise programs
- Teaching use of technology to support work and leisure activities
- Offering ongoing guidance to help maximize mobility and achieve goals
Research Opportunities
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Clinical Research Registry (CRR)
The purpose of this research study is to include individuals in the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab’s participant registry. The registry will provide a controlled list from which researchers at Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and Northwestern University (NU), Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences or Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation may identify potential participants for current and/or future studies.
- Looking for: Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, movement disorders, and healthy controls.
- Principal Investigator: Monica Perez, PT, PhD (In collaboration with Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD)
- Study Contact: cra@sralab.org
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Implementation of Exercise Strategies in Parkinson’s Disease: Clinical Outcomes
The purpose of this research study is to learn about exercise and physical activity in people with Parkinson's Disease in the Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest and University of Chicago communities. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) learn about the physical activity and exercise behaviors of people with Parkinson's Disease over the course of a year and 2) compare 3 exercise guidance strategies aimed to impact exercise behavior: standard care, written exercise guidance from neurologist and/or physical therapy. During the course of the study participants will use activity trackers and a mobile phone application to monitor their exercise participation for 12-months. Participants will, also, be asked to complete surveys and wear a research-grade activity tracker for 7-consecutive days every 3-months.
- Looking for: Individuals with Parkinson's Disease who receive neurology care at Northwestern Medicine - Lake Forest Hospital or University of Chicago
- Principal Investigator: Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD
- Study Contact: Michelle Walaszek, PT, DPT, MS | mwalaszek@sralab.org | 312.238.4679
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Remote Therapeutic Monitoring for Longitudinal Exercise and Self-Efficacy Tracking
The purpose of this study is to examine physical activity and exercise behaviors in people with Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis over the course of 1-year using a cloud based remote monitoring platform. Participants will receive exercise recommendations in concordance with recognized guidelines. Participants will receive customized interactions from the research team based on their needs and preferences. Participants will complete surveys at 8 points throughout the study that examine exercise behaviors, quality of life, patient satisfaction with remote monitoring, and exercise self efficacy.
- Looking for: Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, Parkinsonism, or multiple sclerosis
- Principal Investigator: Miriam Rafferty, PT, DPT, PhD
- Study Contact: Hannah Redd, PT, DPT, NCS | hredd@sralab.org | 312.238.1688
