Occupational therapists help people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain independent and pursuing the activities they enjoy. Heather Simpson, OTD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist at the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida. At the Fixel Institute, she treats people with Parkinson's and other movement disorders while serving as co-clinical coordinator for their Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. In this article, Heather answers the most frequently asked questions about Parkinson’s and occupational therapy (OT).

What is your definition of occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a form of rehab therapy in which therapists use everyday activities to promote health, wellbeing and your ability to participate in meaningful activities in your life. OT works on “occupations,” which include self-care activities (like dressing, eating, bathing and toileting), home management activities (like cooking and driving) and leisure activities. Occupational therapy is individualized, but our goal is to make each person feel comfortable with who they are and help them live independently for as long as possible.

When should a person with PD start occupational therapy?

Research supports that occupational therapy intervention, along with physical therapy and speech therapy, can be very helpful for people with Parkinson’s disease. Starting occupational therapy early on is highly recommended. Even if you are independent when you first get diagnosed with Parkinson’s, starting OT can provide you with a home program that reacts to existing PD symptoms and prevents additional PD symptoms from occurring. OT can also give you tips and strategies to make sure you're feeling your best during daily activities.

What are the benefits of occupational therapy for people with Parkinson’s?

What I love about OT is that it's holistic. We provide evidence-based interventions to help people enjoy life through everyday activities. OT is also tailored to your individual needs as a person with Parkinson’s. For movement symptoms, we can help with posture, rigidity, bradykinesia and fine motor skills. For non-movement skills, we work on improving sleep, vision, cognition and mood. Occupational therapy is useful because it’s available in many different settings — it can be found in outpatient therapy, inpatient therapy, hospitals, nursing homes and more.

Is it better to go to a specialized facility for occupational therapy?

Getting occupational therapy services is important no matter what, but therapists at Parkinson’s Foundation Centers of Excellence are specialized in Parkinson's and related disorders. They do a lot of research and learning, particularly about Parkinson's, and can work together with your local providers to give PD-specific recommendations.

Occupational therapists at specialized facilities also work directly with the physicians on your multidisciplinary team. This type of collaboration can help make sure that we're understanding your symptoms and your needs.

How does an occupational therapist collaborate with the Parkinson’s care team?

Occupational therapists are an important part of the care team for people living with Parkinson’s. We are directly involved with physicians and nurses, as well as physical therapists and speech-language pathologists. Since occupational therapists may work with you more regularly than you see your neurologist, we can be the eyes and the ears for other members of the team.

For example, if you come into an OT session and we notice you are experiencing new movement fluctuations, we can reach out to your doctor on your behalf to address the issue. Occupational therapists coordinate closely with your doctor and help make critical decisions for your care.

Can you share an inspirational story about one of your PD clients?

Occupational therapy is meaningful because it is person-centered and works to meet an individual’s needs. One of my clients was highly motivated by her role as a mother and a grandmother. She had a hard time moving her arms, hands and fingers, but through OT we found ways to adapt board games so she could play with her grandkids when they came to visit. Even though she had limited physical ability, we were able to maintain what she found important in her daily activities through these personalized interventions.

How do you manage the stress that can accompany helping other people?

I love what I do for work, but I think it’s also very important to maintain the other roles I play in my life: friend, sister, daughter and spouse. I take time to pursue activities outside of work that fulfill those roles. I exercise, go to therapy and plan specialized date nights with my friends.

People in the Parkinson’s community may have a similar experience when it comes to the roles they play in life. When someone is diagnosed with PD, they may feel like they have to exercise full-time. Care partners may feel like they need to be a care partner at all times, and they lose their role as a spouse. I think it’s important to find a balance between your various roles whenever possible.

What is a takeaway the PD community should know about occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is an individualized therapy that ensures safety, independence and happiness. It allows you to maintain your sense of self. OT is critical throughout all stages of Parkinson’s, from diagnosis to palliative care, but it is designed to help you maintain a sense of self and be happy with who you are.

For help finding an occupational therapist near you, contact our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636).

The Parkinson’s Foundation Fitness Friday video series focuses on a different aspect of exercise designed to support people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). From balance to coordination and more, this series lets you choose the at-home workouts that meet your fitness goals.

Research has shown that 2.5 hours of weekly exercise, along with medication, can significantly improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson's.

Get moving or try a new exercise with our most popular Fitness Friday workouts:

1.  LSVT BIG Movements

LSVT BIG exercises focus on making “BIG” movements with your arms, legs and torso in all directions. This program helps you learn how to override the small, slow movements that are common with Parkinson’s disease.

2.  Posture

Posture changes associated with Parkinson’s include stooped or rounded shoulders or forward lean of the head or whole body, making you look hunched over. Learn strategies for improving your posture with this seated workout.

3.  Brain and Body

This video, featuring exercises from the Power for Parkinson’s program, is designed to stimulate the brain/body connection. Try it out to get a full workout from head (or brain) to toe.

4.  LVST LOUD Vocal Therapy

LSVT LOUD therapy helps people with Parkinson's improve their vocal strength. A certified speech-language pathologist guides you through the exercises, helping you increase your voice volume to a healthy level making it easier for others to hear and understand you.

5.  Boxing with Strength

This high-intensity boxing class will help you move with strength. The workout includes power training using light weights and high repetitions of big and fast movements to address the slowness associated with bradykinesia.

6.  Balance, Brains, Agility and Flexibility Workout

This fun workout incorporates balance exercises, agility drills for coordination, cognitive exercises and various types of flexibility exercises. The class is intended for all fitness levels, with modifications available to increase and/or decrease intensity.

7.    PWR! Moves (Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery Moves)

This Parkinson’s-specific training program aims to maintain or restore skills that deteriorate and interfere with everyday movements. PWR! Moves are performed with whole-body movements and intentional action in multiple postures to help people with PD gain body awareness.

8.  Let’s Dance

Dance/movement therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses movement in all forms. This workout will allow you to move and find comfort in your body, expressing what words might be too difficult to uncover.

9.  Yoga Therapy for Parkinson’s Anxiety/Depression

At least 50% of people with PD will experience some form of depression during their Parkinson's journey and up to 40% will experience an anxiety disorder. Try this yoga class, focused on meditation and mindful breathing, to address problems with anxiety and depression.

Watch all our Fitness Friday videos on our YouTube channel.