Parkinson’s disease is a neurologic movement disorder causing changes in motor control and in non-motor symptoms, such as balance and gait, depression and cognition—symptoms that often pose barriers to care.

“Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition, essentially a progressive brain disorder. Anything we can do to preserve brain function is the goal,” says James T. Boyd, MD, director of UVM Medical Center’s Frederick C. Binter Center for Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorders and UVM Larner College of Medicine’s Robert W. Hamill, MD, Green and Gold Professor in Neurological Sciences. 

Living with Parkinson’s is an individual journey—no two people are affected exactly the same way. Research shows that exercise improves symptoms, fitness and neuroprotection (the ability of a treatment to preserve the neurons in the brain and slow cell degeneration). Group exercise can increase benefits, as it helps bring individuals out of isolation and into community. 

In 2017, an anonymous donor made a substantial gift to support the establishment of PushBack at Parkinson’s Disease™, a group exercise program for people with Parkinson’s that utilizes a team approach to create a supportive and motivating environment. PushBack sessions focus on strength, agility and flexibility as well as emotional and psychological aspects of the disease. 

In 2020, the founding donors reinvested in PushBack to accelerate expansion of the program (in-person and online), and in 2024, they established a PushBack at Parkinson’s Disease™ Endowment to ensure the program’s existence in perpetuity. Annual disbursements from the endowment will help cover staffing, equipment, space rental and scholarships. 

Today, more than 60 people are enrolled in PushBack, and with charitable gifts from grateful patients, family members and community members, it continues to grow. Without philanthropy, this program would not exist.

To explore opportunities to support movement-disorder-related clinical care, education and research, contact Shelby McGarry, Shelby.McGarry@uvmhealth.org, 802-999-8688 (mobile).

If you are a patient or a local organization interested in learning more about the PushBack program, please contact Brandolyn Bradley, Brandolyn.Bradley@UVMHealth.org, 802-847-4334.