{"id":2260,"date":"2026-09-02T20:43:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T20:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/02\/special-edition-ask-the-physical-therapist-with-teresa-baker\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T20:43:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T20:43:52","slug":"special-edition-ask-the-physical-therapist-with-teresa-baker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/02\/special-edition-ask-the-physical-therapist-with-teresa-baker\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Edition: \u201cAsk the Physical Therapist\u201d with Teresa Baker"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Special Edition: \u201cAsk the Physical Therapist\u201d with Teresa Baker<\/h3>\n

Special guest expert!<\/strong> October is National Physical Therapy Month and to commemorate the month and to spotlight the important role physical therapy (PT) can play in a life with Parkinson\u2019s, we invited Teresa Baker, PT, DPT, a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy from Boston University to answer some popular questions!<\/p>\n

Q. I am newly diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s and have heard that exercise is important. How do I know what\u2019s best?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A.<\/strong> It\u2019s normal to feel overwhelmed by all the information out there and the good news is there\u2019s no single \u201cbest\u201d exercise. What matters is finding activities you enjoy and that address several key aspects: aerobic exercise (like brisk walking or dancing), strength training, and balance work. There are many options to incorporate these elements. I recommend meeting with a Physical Therapist who can evaluate your needs and help you build a program that fits your life and your specific PD symptoms. They\u2019ll help you start safely and progress at the right pace for you. Groups fitness classes can also be a great way to combine exercise and some socialization. Look for classes geared for people with Parkinson\u2019s. APDA\u2019s Be Active & Beyond<\/em> free exercise booklet is also a great guide to help get you started. apdaparkinson.org\/BeActive<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Q. I don\u2019t feel as steady as I used to when walking across a parking lot and going into the grocery store. Any advice on how to feel more balanced with walking?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A.<\/strong> It\u2019s very common to feel more challenged by longer distances or busy environments which put extra demands on your balance. Small adjustments can make a big difference. You might consider parking closer to the entrance or using an assistive device like a cane or hiking pole for increased stability. There are many exercises you can do to help improve your balance and feel more steady on your feet. Talk to a Physical Therapist about what else might help in these situations. And check out the Let\u2019s Keep Moving<\/em> playlist on APDA\u2019s YouTube channel for a selection of balance-focused webinars.<\/p>\n

Q. Would Physical Therapy help me with my Parkinson\u2019s? How can I find a Physical Therapist in my area?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

A.<\/strong> Physical Therapy can make a real difference and it\u2019s never too early to start. A Physical Therapist will spend time understanding your specific challenges, whether that\u2019s balance, walking, turning, or everyday activities like getting in and out of chairs and then work with you to build strategies and exercises tailored to your goals. They can also adjust your exercises as your symptoms and\/or lifestyle change. Many people find that working with a PT improves not just their movement, but also their confidence and quality of life. To find a PT in your area:<\/em> Talk to your Neurologist and also consider contacting APDA\u2019s National Rehabilitation Resource Center Helpline at 888-606-1688.<\/p>\n

The post Special Edition: \u201cAsk the Physical Therapist\u201d with Teresa Baker<\/a> appeared first on American Parkinson Disease Association<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Special Edition: \u201cAsk the Physical Therapist\u201d with Teresa Baker Special guest expert! October is National Physical Therapy Month and to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2261,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2260","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parkinson"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2260"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2260\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2260"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2260"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/askneurology.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}