Fighting Parkinson’s on Land and Water

By Maya Greenberg ’20, February 27, 2020

Professors receive grant to improve the lives of individuals with Parkinson’s Disease using land- and aquatic-based exercises.

Aquatic-based exercises aimed at reducing fall rates and improving balance were a key component of a research project conducted by four Ithaca College professors.

(Image by karelnoppe/Shutterstock)

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive nervous system disease affects millions of individuals a year. With no cure, treatments are focused on improving the quality of life for those with the condition. Four Ithaca College physical therapy professors hope to do just that, thanks to a grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation.

This past December, assistant professors Megan Hotchkiss, Samantha Brown and Sarah Fishel, and clinical associate professor Christine McNamara received the Parkinson’s Foundation Physical Therapy Faculty Award, which provides up to $10,000 to further an existing research project.

Since the fall of 2018, Fishel and her colleagues, with the help of students who assist with scheduling and data entry, have been overseeing an exercise program for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease who are currently at Longview, an active retirement and assisted living community in Ithaca. In the 12-week program, which is aimed at reducing fall rates and improving balance, participants are split into two groups. One group did a series of land-based exercises, while others did exercises in the water.

“Our physical therapy program is one of the top programs [in the country]. It’s great that we’re able to earn a grant like this from the Parkinson’s Foundation.”

Sarah Fishel, assistant professor of physical therapy

“Land-based programs are shown to be effective at improving balance and motor function for people with Parkinson’s,” says Fishel. “We want to see if programs performed in water could have similar effects, just to give people more options that would be equally as beneficial.”

The additional money from the Parkinson’s Foundation will go toward equipment, training and a non-biased examiner. The foundation has also provided a research mentor.

“When the funding came about, we felt like we could have a greater impact,” says Hotchkiss, who is also the director of clinical education in the department.

The project wouldn’t be possible without the participation from Longview, with whom the college already has a longstanding relationship.

“We were really excited that they were so willing to lend their resources,” says Hotchkiss. “We just felt like all the pieces were in place.”

The project is a prime example of several aspects of the college’s strategic plan. By utilizing existing partnerships to provide a public good, the group hopes to be able to disseminate the results of their research both locally and state-wide.

Fishel credits Ithaca College for helping the grant come to pass. “We would not have been eligible for this grant had it not been for the support from the Provost’s Office,” she said. “And our physical therapy program is one of the top programs [in the country]. It’s great that we’re able to earn a grant like this from the Parkinson’s Foundation.”