December 11, 2025 - Managing Complex Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease: Strategies for Physical Therapists

from $10.00

Speaker: Dr. Emily Ramon

Date: December 11, 2025

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Online Webinar

CEUS: Pending 2 hours (0.2)

Cost: $25 for APTA members / $40 for prospective APTA members

Course Description: 

Parkinson’s disease presents with a wide spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms that can significantly impact participation, quality of life, and long-term outcomes. While motor symptoms such as gait dysfunction, freezing of gait, and dyskinesia are often prioritized, non-motor features—including autonomic changes, fatigue, cognitive fluctuations, and mood—also play a critical role in functional performance. This course will provide physical therapists with an updated framework for understanding the complexity of Parkinson’s disease and practical, evidence-based strategies for assessment and management. Through case examples and clinical applications, participants will learn how to personalize interventions, integrate non-motor considerations into motor training, and optimize care across disease stages.

Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Recognize potential early screening tools for complex motor features such as freezing of gait.

  2. Select appropriate screening tools for detecting non-motor symptoms including autonomic dysfunction, cognitive impairment, fatigue, and mood changes.

  3. Apply evidence-based physical therapy interventions that integrate motor and non-motor considerations to improve safety and functional performance.

  4. Adapt intervention strategies across disease stages and phenotypes using case-based clinical reasoning.

  5. Incorporate interdisciplinary and patient-centered approaches to enhance quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Course Schedule (2 hours)

  • 0:00 – 0:10 | Introduction and Course Overview

  • 0:10 – 0:35 | Motor System Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease: gait, balance, and movement complexity

  • 0:35 – 1:10 | Non-Motor System Challenges: autonomic, cognitive, and psychosocial considerations in therapy

  • 1:10 – 1:30 | Integrating Systems-Based Perspectives: case examples and clinical reasoning strategies

  • 1:30 – 1:50 | Evidence-Based Interventions: outcome measures, screening tools, and practical applications for PTs

  • 1:50 – 2:00 | Q&A, Summary, and Clinical Takeaways

Speaker Bio: 

Dr. Emily Ramon is a Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy and clinic director for re+active physical therapy and wellness in Los Angeles, California. At re+active, Dr. Ramon also directs outpatient therapy services and wellness programs for people with Parkinson’s Disease and teaches didactic content in the Schmidt Movement Disorders Fellowship on the topic of transdisciplinary management of freezing of gait and advanced Parkinson's Disease.Outside of re+active, Dr. Ramon teaches continuing education courses for ContinuED/Physical Therapy.com over patient management in neuro rehab, including topics in Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Ramon is passionate about providing care for people with PD across the lifespan, pioneering new programs to optimize health and wellness for those living with PD, and is committed to inspiring other therapy professionals to do the same.

Membership Designation:

Speaker: Dr. Emily Ramon

Date: December 11, 2025

Time: 5:30pm

Location: Online Webinar

CEUS: Pending 2 hours (0.2)

Cost: $25 for APTA members / $40 for prospective APTA members

Course Description: 

Parkinson’s disease presents with a wide spectrum of motor and non-motor symptoms that can significantly impact participation, quality of life, and long-term outcomes. While motor symptoms such as gait dysfunction, freezing of gait, and dyskinesia are often prioritized, non-motor features—including autonomic changes, fatigue, cognitive fluctuations, and mood—also play a critical role in functional performance. This course will provide physical therapists with an updated framework for understanding the complexity of Parkinson’s disease and practical, evidence-based strategies for assessment and management. Through case examples and clinical applications, participants will learn how to personalize interventions, integrate non-motor considerations into motor training, and optimize care across disease stages.

Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Recognize potential early screening tools for complex motor features such as freezing of gait.

  2. Select appropriate screening tools for detecting non-motor symptoms including autonomic dysfunction, cognitive impairment, fatigue, and mood changes.

  3. Apply evidence-based physical therapy interventions that integrate motor and non-motor considerations to improve safety and functional performance.

  4. Adapt intervention strategies across disease stages and phenotypes using case-based clinical reasoning.

  5. Incorporate interdisciplinary and patient-centered approaches to enhance quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease.

Course Schedule (2 hours)

  • 0:00 – 0:10 | Introduction and Course Overview

  • 0:10 – 0:35 | Motor System Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease: gait, balance, and movement complexity

  • 0:35 – 1:10 | Non-Motor System Challenges: autonomic, cognitive, and psychosocial considerations in therapy

  • 1:10 – 1:30 | Integrating Systems-Based Perspectives: case examples and clinical reasoning strategies

  • 1:30 – 1:50 | Evidence-Based Interventions: outcome measures, screening tools, and practical applications for PTs

  • 1:50 – 2:00 | Q&A, Summary, and Clinical Takeaways

Speaker Bio: 

Dr. Emily Ramon is a Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist in Physical Therapy and clinic director for re+active physical therapy and wellness in Los Angeles, California. At re+active, Dr. Ramon also directs outpatient therapy services and wellness programs for people with Parkinson’s Disease and teaches didactic content in the Schmidt Movement Disorders Fellowship on the topic of transdisciplinary management of freezing of gait and advanced Parkinson's Disease.Outside of re+active, Dr. Ramon teaches continuing education courses for ContinuED/Physical Therapy.com over patient management in neuro rehab, including topics in Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Ramon is passionate about providing care for people with PD across the lifespan, pioneering new programs to optimize health and wellness for those living with PD, and is committed to inspiring other therapy professionals to do the same.