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Program Brings Comfort To Parkinson's Patients College Designs Therapies To Improve Quality Of Life POSTED: 3:14 p.m. EDT September 3, 2003 UPDATED: 5:51 p.m. EDT September 3, 2003 BOSTON -- Muhammad Ali suffers from it, and Katherine Hepburn did too -- at least 500,000 Americans have Parkinson's -- a progressive disease characterized not just by shaking, but by slowed, rigid movement. NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh reported that there is no cure, but a Boston program aims to make life more livable for those afflicted. It may not look like an extraordinary feat, but walking isn't easy for Dick Wyborg and Carmella Rosen who have Parkinson's disease. "They walk slow, can't keep up with people. They have a tendency to shuffle. They don't swing their arms. They walk very stiffly," Boston University Sargent College spokesperson Terry Ellis said. "I can walk better. I can get around. I can carry a more normal life than I did for a while," patient Dick Wyborg said. They're part of an unusual and comprehensive Parkinson's program at Boston University's Sargent College that designs specific therapies to improve quality of life. "My greatest problem is trying to keep my shoulders back and standing up straight," Rosen said. Physical therapists say that practicing better posture will ultimately improve Rosen's breathing and talking. The National Institute of Health has granted the program $1 million to study the innovative approach. "It's multi-disciplinary -- physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy -- which hasn't been done in this way before," Dr. Robert Wagenaar said. "The patient doesn't have to go to three different people at three different times to get this type of treatment. They come here, and they get it all together," Ellis said. The study, which gets under way later this month, will involve about 150 Parkinson's patients. BU Researchers said that proving the uncommonly extensive therapy dramatically works could have important implications. "When those trials show impact at the level of quality of life, activities of daily living, health insurance companies have to make this part of their policy," Wagenaar said. "My capabilities had become quite limited, and the program here has taught me how to regain many of those capabilities to have a much brighter outlook," Rosen said. If you're interested in taking part in the study, call (617) 638-7737 to set up an evaluation. SOURCE: The Boston Channel.com, MA http://www.thebostonchannel.com/health/2452849/detail.html * * * ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn