Stanford PD Community Blog

In July 2026, the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation (NWPF) hosted a webinar on how balance is affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dr. Nate Coomer, a physical therapist who works daily with those with neurological conditions, discussed why people with PD are at higher risk for falls than those of similar age. He described what physical and environmental factors contribute to falls for people with PD, and shared strategies physical therapists use to help people with challenges such as freezing of gait and poor proprioception. He also reviewed some exercises that can be used at home to practice improving one’s balance.

Join Stanford’s Parkinson’s Community Outreach team at the newly-opened Peninsula Parkinson’s Place, a great new space for exercise and connections!  RSVP by September 16.  This event features well-known Rock Steady Boxing coach Freddy Silva and PD exercise coach Dante Kirkman for demonstrations of various exercise types (adaptive yoga, dance, tai chi, and RSB).  Plus Stanford movement disorder specialist Dr. Pegah Kahali will address “Gait and Cognition in PD.” Visit the Stanford PD resource table. 

In July 2026, the Parkinson’s Foundation hosted a webinar titled “Moving through Parkinson’s: Does Intensity and Dose Matter?” The session featured Jimmy Choi, 2017 American Ninja Warrior and Parkinson’s advocate who has lived with young-onset Parkinson’s disease for more than two decades, and Daniel Corcos, PhD, Northwestern University professor of physical therapy. They discussed what research says about the type, amount, and intensity of exercise for Parkinson’s, as well as how care teams can help people build exercise into a lasting routine.