The P.A.R.K. program, which stands for Parkinsons Activity and Rehabilitation Klinic, is designed to teach exercises that help give patients the skills they need to remain independent, he said. Kann has worked with Vancrest facilities in Urbana and Delphos to administer the program.
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The program teaches area patients basic skills such as how to get in and out of a car, how to walk or climb stairs, and how to get in and out of bed. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement. It typically causes stiffness and slower movement, and progressively worsens over time.
Kann said the latest edition of his book includes a section on a program called SARI, or Simultaneous Automatic Response Integration. That technique develops muscle memory through repetition to help patients perform basic tasks. The first edition of his book was published in 1993, he said.
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To enroll in the program, patients must be referred from a physician and evaluated by a physical therapist. Once enrolled, however, the program is free. Classes are once a week and last about an hour.
Kann said his program also received a grant this year from the Parkinson’s Foundation of Ohio. The grant will cover some of the costs for new equipment and help cover printing costs for the latest edition of his book, he said.
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