Objective: The objectives of the Parkinson’s Foundation Exercise Competencies were to standardize education provided to exercise professionals, reduce unwarranted variations in care, and to inform the development of an accreditation process for Parkinson’s exercise educational programs.

Background: Despite the important role played by exercise professionals, there are no unified guidelines or procedures in place to ensure competence of exercise professionals working with people with Parkinson’s. This leads to great variability in the knowledge, skill and abilities (KSAs) of exercise professionals and makes it difficult for people with Parkinson’s and healthcare providers to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of programs and instructors.

Method: With psychometrician methodologists, we created a two-phase process that would a) develop KSAs to define competencies for exercise professionals and b) develop a framework for an accreditation program to recognize education programs. Methods included: (1) convening subject matter experts, (2) consolidating recommended exercise guidelines, (3) surveying stakeholders, and (4) convening a competency development task force. The process aligned with professional standards in testing articulated in the accreditation standards published by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA, 2014).

Results: The results include competencies for Exercise Professionals to describe the KSAs needed to provide optimal individual or group exercise sessions for people with Parkinson’s. Second, competencies for Exercise Education Programs to support the curricula development of the program. Both competencies are organized into five domains (1) Foundational Information on the Diagnosis, Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and the Role of Exercise (2) Screening for People with Parkinson’s Disease to Participate in Exercise (3) Group and Individual Exercise Design for People with Parkinson’s Disease (4) Exercise Leadership for People with Parkinson’s Disease: Human Behavior and Counseling and (5) Interprofessional Communication and Program Development.

Conclusion: The competency frameworks will serve as the foundation for a process by which the Parkinson’s Foundation will accredit education programs that provide the KSAs necessary to create a safe and effective exercise experience for people with Parkinson’s.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/pathway-to-parkinsons-exercise-education-accreditation-competencies-for-exercise-professionals-and-exercise-education-programs/