KINGSTON, R.I. — May 8, 2025 — Doctor of physical therapy students from the University of Rhode Island conducted balance screenings, and assessed the physical health of individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease at a community clinic in Portsmouth as part of a nationwide event to help those with the condition and their caretakers learn about and formulate a plan to live well with Parkinson’s Disease.

URI students Avery Hanan, Hannah Rae, Savanna Perkins, Zoe Hetrick and Charlotte Vitale joined adjunct Professor Kenneth Vinacco at the CFP Arts, Wellness, and Community Center in Portsmouth on May 3, as part of the national “Renew! Retreat” program from the Parkinson & Movement Disorder Alliance. The annual event aims to educate individuals about the disease’s progression and treatment options, and create opportunities to network with those who share the condition, allowing them to learn from expert providers, as well as each other.

“The retreat is one of several initiatives sponsored by the Parkinson and Movement Disorder Alliance aimed at supporting individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, caregivers, and health care providers,” Vinacco said, noting this was the first local event the PMD organized. “It was a good turnout. There were about 70 people, either with Parkinson’s or their caregivers. It connects organizations like the Parkinson’s Foundation or the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, along with other community partners to bring them together as a whole resource both for people living with Parkinson’s Disease and their caregivers.”

In addition to working directly with individuals, the URI students also touted the programs and studies on-going at URI to benefit those living with the condition. Vinacco and the students are part of URI’s Neuro Collaborative Lab, organized by Professor Christine Clarkin, which aims to improve understanding of neurodegenerative disease, assess exercise and physical therapy treatment interventions, improve practice guidelines for clinicians and students, and develop and assess community-based programs to support people living with Parkinson’s.

The lab hosts an interdisciplinary clinic, “Empower PD,” an intensive “boot-camp” style of integrated health care delivery that includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutrition, pharmacy and physiological counseling. The clinic provides education, support, and recommendations for care as soon as a diagnosis has been made, providing a model of care for treating Parkinson’s, as well as other neurologic disorders, including ALS, strokes, and multiple sclerosis.

The lab also organizes the Parkinson’s Exercise Group, a student-run program for members of the public to help improve balance, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health while supporting cognitive functions that tend to diminish as Parkinson’s progresses. Clarkin is also conducting a study on “active assistance exercise,” using a specialized motorized cycle to assess whether such assisted exercise can limit fatigue in those with Parkinson’s, helping them maintain their physical therapy for longer.

Programs like Renew! Retreat and those in the Neuro Cooperative Lab serve a dual purpose of helping members of the community living with Parkinson’s, and training future clinicians and researchers to provide the care and therapy needed for their future patients.

“It allows students to connect with their community, and feel that sense of community that is so important for caring for these individuals beyond the typical health care model. It allows them to see that kind of care,” Vinacco said. “Secondly, in trying to recruit participants into research studies, it exposes students to this element of research. This can help equip them with the skills necessary to engage in current and future research projects.”

Visit the URI Department of Physical Therapy website or email Clarkin at chrisclarkin@uri.edu for more information on the educational and community programs offered by the College of Health Sciences division.