Consultative Physical Therapy to Promote Exercise in Parkinson's Disease
Official title: Consultative Physical Therapy: A Physical Activity and Exercise Implementation Strategy in Parkinson's
Funded at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab · NIH-11332466 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program helps people with Parkinson’s start and keep up more exercise through fewer, regular guidance sessions from physical therapists.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | June 13, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $496,801 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD110668-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332466 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Parkinson’s disease who could benefit from structured but accessible exercise guidance.
✕Less likely to help
Those who are unable to engage in any physical activity due to advanced disability or safety concerns may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a consultative physical therapy approach to help people with Parkinson’s begin, progress, and sustain a regular exercise routine by addressing personal and environmental barriers. It builds on a pilot program and uses fewer, less frequent visits than traditional therapy, focusing on promoting exercise in real-world settings. The study will evaluate how well this approach works across different contexts to support long-term maintenance of physical activity and function for people with Parkinson’s and similar conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, people with Parkinson’s could exercise more consistently and maintain mobility and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary piloting showed promise, with a need for broader effectiveness and implementation evaluation.
Where this research is happening
-
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rafferty, Miriam Rose — Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago D/b/a Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
- Study coordinator: Rafferty, Miriam Rose
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
mHealth tool to boost physical therapy outcomes for adults with musculoskeletal pain
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-
Improving back-pain care in rural areas with tele-physical therapy
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-
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-
Psilocybin for Chronic Back Pain: Brain Signals and Real-World Therapy Outcomes
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-
Improving access to physical therapy for Hispanic patients with back and spine pain
This program will try a culturally tailored approach to help Hispanic adults with spine pain get referred to and stick with physical therapy.
-
Remote physical therapy to ease chronic low back pain and cut opioid use in rural communities
This project offers remote physical therapy to people with long-term low back pain in rural areas to help them move better and depend less on opioid pain medicines.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.