In this episode, host Ken Vinacco talks with guest Gia Mannone to discuss the resources that the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA www.hdsa.org ) offers for people with HD. Gia discusses events, ways to find specialized medical care, and education for people with HD in all stages of the disease. If you treat people with HD, you’ll likely find something new to share after a listen! The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy –...
Jun 28, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 55
This episode of 4D highlights results and implications from an article in the July 2025 Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy special issue on walking in people with neurological health conditions. Host Parm Padgett interviews two authors, Michael (Mike) VanNostrand and Patrick (Paddy) Monaghan, about their recent study examining the role of proprioception in backward walking in people with multiple sclerosis, as well as previous work related to backward walking. If you’re curious about how to ...
Jun 25, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode, host Ken Vinacco interviews Franchino Porciuncula, the winner of the DDSIG platform award at CSM 2025 in Houston, TX. They discuss his research related to utilizing closed-loop, music-based rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) with people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). They review the impact on real-world walking and gait quality, as well as participant feedback. He discusses ways to integrate use of RAS in clinic, highlighting both the complex nature of PD and challenges and lim...
May 31, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 55
In this episode, host Ken Vinacco sits down with guests Lauren LaMar and Kyle Vasher to discuss the range of resources that the ALS Association offers for people with ALS. Lauren shares her role in the multidisciplinary clinic as well as the range of online, local and one-on-one support services offered for patients and caregivers. Kyle adds his input as a DD SIG liaison and treating therapist. Filled with great advice, perspective and practical resources to share with patients, this is a helpfu...
May 29, 2025•Season 1Ep. 56
In this insightful episode, host Parm Padgett sits down with Dr. Alice Nieuwboer, a leading expert in Parkinson’s rehabilitation, to unpack the complex and frustrating phenomenon of freezing of gait (FOG). From the role of dopamine loss and neural "overload" to the influence of stress, motor challenges, and cognitive demands, Dr. Nieuwboer explains what we know about the factors influencing FOG. She also shares the latest research on freezing subtypes, how medication impacts symptoms, and why de...
May 01, 2025•55 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, host Ken Vinacco sits down with special guest Donna Sperlakis to explore the wide range of resources and support services offered by the Parkinson’s Foundation. Together, they dive into the educational tools, community programs, and research initiatives designed to empower individuals living with Parkinson’s disease and their families. Donna shares personal insights and expert advice on how to access these resources and make the most of the resources offered. This conversation p...
Apr 28, 2025•27 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Tune in to the first episode of our new series, Navigating the Path: Resources for Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases, which highlights organizations that provide resources and information to people with neurodegenerative diseases. In this episode, Lauren Corley, a National MS Society representative, joins our host Christina Burke to explore the many resources and programs offered by the society. From financial assistance for assistive devices to continuing education opportunities for clin...
Mar 29, 2025•21 min
In this episode, Parm interviews Lisa Inglis, the winner of the DDSIG poster award at CSM 2025 in Houston. Lisa, a PT and professor at Daemen college, explains her research related to measuring backward walking and comparing backward walking characteristics of people with and without Parkinson’s Disease (PD). She goes on to discuss potential uses of backward gait assessment in PT practice. The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – ww...
Mar 24, 2025•20 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Join our podcast team members, Sara Zoeller and Parm Padgett, as they discuss the in-person and on-demand degenerative diseases programming (and some DD-adjacent talks) at this year’s CSM in Houston, TX. This podcast highlights talks and authors to help you plan your best CSM experience, complete with fun haikus and a CSM song at the very end of the bloopers - listen for that! The DD SIG committee and members of the 4D podcast team will be visible at the poster session on Friday from 1-3 pm and ...
Feb 06, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, host Parm Padgett is joined by Miriam Rafferty and Monica Hendricksen from Shirley Ryan Ability Lab to explore the impact of current care models on individuals with neurologic conditions. Together, they delve into the opportunities and challenges of adopting innovative approaches to care and examine how these models can improve outcomes and transform practice. They take the discussion from theory to practice by reviewing a recent case series applying a consultative, proactive mo...
Jan 30, 2025•44 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode, host Parm Padgett welcomes Taylor Takla to discuss her article, "Motor and Non-Motor Factors of Concern About Falling and Fear of Falling in Multiple Sclerosis” published in the October 2024 issue of JNPT. Taylor’s research delves into the complexities behind fear of falling and contributing factors among individuals with MS. Join the conversation to explore the clinical implications of her findings and how they can influence therapy approaches for those living with MS. The Dege...
Dec 20, 2024•37 min•Season 53Ep. 1
In this episode, host Ken Vinacco talks to guest Kristina Vaughn to discuss the role of physical therapists working with individuals with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). NPH is a condition that leads to excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in ventricles of the brain. This can lead to gait abnormalities, cognitive changes, and urinary incontinence. Ken and Kristina discuss how to differentiate from other neurologic diagnoses and what PTs can do to in the clinic or as a member of a mult...
Nov 26, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this episode, host Ken Vinacco talks with Bobby Hand about the role and intricacies of skilled maintenance therapy for individuals with degenerative diseases. Skilled maintenance therapy is the care that physical therapists can provide to individuals who have conditions with no curative treatment. Bobby and Ken delve into how PTs can provide therapy that impacts the individual’s quality of life, even when they are not expected to make improvements. Bobby shares examples from his clinical prac...
Oct 24, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this special episode, our podcast team interviewed listeners and former guests at CSM 2024 to find out what they were excited about doing when treating people with neurodegenerative conditions. We are excited to share their answers with you, along with some commentary from our current team, as a celebration of our 50th episode. The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuroPT.org Please send comments or questions on this podc...
Aug 30, 2024•52 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, host Ken Vinacco talks with Claudia Senesac about physical therapy for people with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Becker Muscular Dystrophy (BMD). DMD and BMD are both disorders that cause progressive muscle weakness, with BMD often presenting with less severe weakness and later in life. Claudia covers the medical management and prognosis, PT assessment, and PT treatment for people with these unique diagnoses. The Degenerative...
Jul 24, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 49
In this installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, Ken Vinnaco talks with Megan Iammarino about physical therapy for people with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD), an umbrella term that encompasses a varied group of disorders affecting the proximal muscles around the shoulders and hips that impacts approximately 2 in every 100,000 people. Megan covers the assessment, PT treatment and prognosis for people with this unique diagnosis that causes significant balance and gait challeng...
Jun 27, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this episode, Chris interviews Michelle Walaszek, a winner of the DDSIG platform award at CSM Boston in 2024. Michelle, a PhD candidate and research associate in the Knowledge Translation of Exercise and Activity for Symptom Management (KTEAM) lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, explains important qualitative research that her team completed in their local Chicagoland area. She discusses themes that arose from survey data and analysis that assessed attitudes and experience with PD rehabilitation ...
Jun 14, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, Parm interviews Chelsea “CJ” Duppen, a winner of the DDSIG platform award at CSM Boston in 2024. CJ, a fourth year PhD student at the University of North Carolina, works with Dr. Mike Lewek in the Recovery of Gait and Neurorehabilitation (ReGaiN) lab, studying gait and gait initiation impairments in people living with Parkinson Disease, as well as motor learning. Parm and CJ discuss CJ’s poster, “Gait Initiation Dynamics in Parkinson Disease: Impact of Weight Shift Amplitude and...
May 14, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode, Chris Burke interviews Kayla Chomko who, along with Jen Canbeck, Lauren Tabor Gray, and Rania Massad, won the DDSIG Best Poster Award at APTA’s Combined Sections Meeting in February 2024. Chris and Kayla discuss her team’s poster, “The Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment Discriminates between Fallers and Non-Fallers in pALS: A Retrospective Study”. They delve into the impetus for and findings from their research, how Kayla utilizes data from outcome measures to faci...
Apr 18, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this episode of 4D, hosts Parm Padgett and 4D student intern Shannon Brown talk through the degenerative disease programming scheduled for CSM 2024. If you’re going to CSM this February, tune in while you travel, or even while you commute from your hotel in the morning to get some inspiration for what to see each day. We at 4D hope to see you there! The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy –www.neuroPT.org Learn more about CSM and ...
Feb 09, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 47
In this installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, Christina Burke talks with Jeannie Stephenson and Staci Shearin about Friedreich’s Ataxia, a progressive, autosomal recessive hereditary multi-system neurodegenerative disease that impacts approximately 1 in 40,000 people in the U.S. Jeannie and Staci cover assessment, PT treatment and prognosis for people with this unique diagnosis that causes significant balance and gait challenges. The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group ...
Jan 29, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 24
In this installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, Ken Vinacco talks with Carolyn DaSilva about post-polio syndrome (PPS), which can occur in polio survivors 15-20 years after the initial poliomyelitis infection. The constellation of symptoms include new or worsening weakness, pain, and fatigue. Ken and Carolyn also discuss bracing and exercise recommendations in this population. Listen in to learn more about this unique population! The Degenerative Diseases Special Interest Group is...
Jan 03, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this second installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, host Katy McGraw talks with Heather Cianci about Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a neurologic disease that can mimic some features of Parkinson Disease (PD) like loss of balance and a tendency to fall backwards, but that also has unique features such as the loss of vertical gaze, and behavioral changes. Heather discusses clinical signs to look for to treat and/or refer out for. She also talks extensively about treating P...
Nov 21, 2023•50 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this first installment of our series on rare neurologic diseases, host Jeff Schmidt talks with Kyle Reedy about Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Kyle discusses the etiology and clinical presentation of this disease, as well as best practices for treating patients living with this rare neuromuscular disease, in light of medical advances that have improved patient prognosis. From using SMA-specific outcome measures to advocate for patients to insurance companies, to designing comprehensive and ta...
Oct 12, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 44
In this episode, host Parm Padgett talks with Mike Lewek and CJ Duppen from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about using implicit and explicit motor learning techniques with people with Parkinson Disease. CJ and Mike do a deep dive into their research on the integration of targeted rhythmic auditory cueing to improve step length and gait speed. Additionally, they discuss their current work looking at the effects of cueing on gait initiation, step length and step speed, and weight ...
Sep 20, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode, we talk with Jake Sosnoff, Ph.D. about frailty in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). We cover how frailty is defined in geriatrics and how that definition applies to frailty seen in MS, as well as how clinicians can use evidence-based tools to characterize frailty in their patients with MS. Host Herb Karpatkin also talks with Jake about whether frailty in MS is modifiable; how clinicians can approach treating patients with MS and frailty based on the available evidence; and ...
Aug 29, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode, we talk with Mike Studer about intervention and treatment strategies related to fear-avoidance behaviors (as introduced in part 1/episode 40 with Ryan Duncan and Merrill Landers). Host Chris Burke talks with Mike about using autonomy-building strategies to reduce fear and exposure therapy strategies. They also delve into behavior change strategies including tips from the field of behavioral economics. Chris and Mike work through a case application together to help listeners star...
Jul 24, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Merrill Landers and Dr. Ryan Duncan about their presentation at APTA’s CSM 2023, entitled “Mind Over Movement: Fear-Avoidance Behaviors Impacting Movement and Participation in Parkinson’s Disease.” Host Chris Burke talks with Merrill and Ryan about different types of fears and fear-avoidance cycles that have been studied in individuals diagnosed with Parkinson Disease, but likely also extend to other neurologic and neurodegenerative conditions. Fear of falling, ...
Jun 18, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Alicia Flach, who was awarded the DD SIG 2023 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) best poster award for her poster entitled “Education and Exercise Support for Individuals Newly Diagnosed with Parkinson Disease and Their Care Partners”. She and her team created educational modules and promoted self-driven exercise habits through local YMCA membership for both persons diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and their care partners. Host Chris Burke and Alicia discuss prog...
May 24, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this episode, host Jeffrey Schmidt talks with Dr. Mark Mañago, who won this year’s DD SIG CSM platform award year.. Dr. Mañago chats with us about his recent presentation at CSM entitled “Feasibility of Low-Load Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction for People with Severe Multiple Sclerosis”. While traditionally considered a musculoskeletal intervention, he discusses the benefits blood flow restriction (BFR) can bring to the world of neurologic diagnoses, especially for those with m...
Apr 25, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 38
