Explore our latest exercise toolkit for health professionals

Replacing the previous Parkinson’s UK exercise framework, our new toolkit consolidates a wide range of resources that address the unique exercise needs of people with Parkinson’s. It includes signposting to resources from Moving Medicine, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Evidence shows that engaging in physical activity for at least 2.5 hours per week can help people with Parkinson’s manage symptoms, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and even enhance the effectiveness of their medication.

However, many health and care professionals face challenges in initiating conversations about exercise or signposting patients to suitable opportunities.

Julie Jones, Clinical Lead for Therapy for the Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network and Associate Dean and Associate Professor in the School of Health at Robert Gordon University, and her colleagues set out to address this.

The team conducted focus groups with health and care professionals to identify the best ways to support GPs and nurses in encouraging people with Parkinson’s to stay active. The insights from these discussions have informed the development of the toolkit, which provides:

• practical resources
• consultation guides
• links to local and national exercise programmes.

Julie said:

"Research has shown that simply telling people with Parkinson’s and their carers to exercise isn’t enough. What we’ve learned is that people with Parkinson’s need guidance from professionals who not only understand the condition, but who also have the skills to prescribe and deliver exercise programmes tailored to their individual needs.

"Personalised support is key to helping people with Parkinson’s get the most benefit from exercise and stay active for longer."

Case studies

As part of the toolkit we’ve also published a new case study, on social prescribing. It features 2 social prescribing initiatives, Runspire and Nordic Walking, and highlights how they support people with Parkinson’s, and how they could be used to widen access to even more people with Parkinson’s.

Read our case study to learn how to connect people with Parkinson’s to exercise and physical activity.

Our Exercise Hub

Further information about how we support professionals to help people with Parkinson’s to access physical activity and exercise is available via our Exercise Hub.

Find out more about the Exercise Hub and how to join.