Exercise as Medicine: How Do We Apply PD-Specific Functional Training?

Presented by J.J. Mowder-Tinney and Becky Farley

Neuro Navigators: Exercise as Medicine: How Do We Apply PD-Specific Functional Training? (Episode 18)

Audio Runtime: 54 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 21 Minutes

This episode explores how physical and occupational therapists can integrate Parkinson’s disease–specific functional training into everyday clinical practice. Host J.J. Mowder-Tinney is joined by Dr. Becky Farley, neuroscientist, physical therapist, and founder of Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!), to discuss the science and art of applying exercise as medicine for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Together, they break down the core motor control building blocks—such as antigravity extension, weight shifting, axial mobility, and transitions—and demonstrate how these fundamentals can be retrained and progressed to improve real-world function. Listeners will learn practical strategies to make exercise goal-directed, challenging, and fun, while also addressing cognitive and emotional barriers that often limit mobility. Through case examples and clinical pearls, this conversation highlights how to design interventions that feel more like sport than therapy, empowering patients to move with greater ease and confidence. Ideal for PTs and OTs working in rehabilitation or community-based settings, this episode offers actionable insights you can bring directly to your practice.

Learning Objectives

Analyze the fundamental motor control building blocks that support functional mobility training as a foundational intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD)
Apply evidence-informed strategies to target key motor control fundamentals when designing PD-specific functional mobility training
Solve patient case scenarios to develop individualized plans of care that integrate PD-specific functional mobility training across rehabilitation and community settings

This is an audio-only course. Additional materials are available for download within the course. To receive continuing education credit, complete the course and the accompanying quiz.

Meet your instructors

Smiling person with long blonde hair in a blue top on a gray background.

J.J. Mowder-Tinney

Dr. J.J. Mowder-Tinney holds a bachelor of science degree in psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master of science in physical therapy from the University of Miami, and a doctorate in physical therapy from Nova Southeastern University. With nearly three decades of diverse clinical experience, her expertise…

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Becky Farley

Dr. Becky Farley is a physical therapist with 25 years of experience working with persons with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD). She is a neuroscientist with experience in motor control and neurophysiology. During her postdoc, she received NIH funding to translate the theoretical principles of LSVT LOUD to the training of amplitude…

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Chapters & learning objectives

1. Exercise as Medicine: How Do We Apply PD-Specific Functional Training?

This episode features Dr. Becky Farley and J.J. Mowder-Tinney discussing how therapists can apply PD-specific functional training by targeting fundamental motor control skills and making exercise goal-directed, challenging, and fun to improve real-world functional mobility for people with Parkinson’s.