As an organizational partner of the World Parkinson Coalition Inc, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), Alexandria, Va, urges its members, people affected by Parkinson disease, and those interested in helping to find a cure to take the Global Parkinson’s Pledge.
A worldwide appeal for pledges was launched September 28 at the Second World Parkinson Congress (WCP) in Glasgow, Scotland, with a goal of gathering one million over the next 3 years, in time for the next WPC. These pledges will be presented to the World Health Organization and other leading governing bodies to increase awareness of the disease and expedite the discovery for a cure.
Nearly 7.4 million people worldwide have Parkinson disease, a degenerative condition that significantly impacts mobility and for which there is no cure. As experts in restoring and improving motion in people’s lives, physical therapists can help patients with the disease to increase strength, improve balance, prevent stiffness, and control pain. A neurologic physical therapist specializes in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with movement problems due to disease, such as Parkinson, or injury of the nervous system.
APTA, a professional organization that represents more than 79,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy nationwide, aims to spur advances in physical therapy practice, education, and research.
[Source: APTA]
