Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition, which is characterised by both motor (movement) and non-motor symptoms.

The four diagnostic symptoms of PD are: tremor, bradykinesia (slowness of voluntary movements), muscle rigidity and postural instability. Other symptoms may include loss of smell, constipation, slowness in thinking, depression, fatigue, changes in speech fluency, micrographia (small handwriting), decrease in speech volume, sleep disturbances and swallowing changes.

Southern Highlands Private Hospital is licensed to offer the exercise program PD Warrior within its facility.

PD warrior is an internationally renowned group-based program. It helps both the physical and cognitive symptoms that occur with Parkinsons Disease, in a fun social environment using a combination of physical and cognitive activities, to drive your brains natural ability to re-wire itself through neuroplasticity. This helps to improve bodily movement and to delay the onset of severe symptoms of the disease.

The program can help you:

• Improve your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.
• Maintain highest level of physical functioning, at home and in the community.
• Improve your ability to participate in everyday activities, such as walking, standing up, doing the shopping and driving.
• Improve your emotional wellbeing and promote your independence.
• Feel empowered to take control and self-manage your condition, and reduce your need to visit hospital and other medical services.

You may be eligible to participate if:

• you are in the early-to-moderate stages of Parkinson’s disease
• you have Parkinsonian symptoms for a reason other than Parkinson’s disease (e.g. permanent medication side effects or another neurological disorder)
• you have been assessed by your medical team and they think you may benefit from the program

At the start of this program, you will undergo a thorough initial assessment by your Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist. You will then be able to attend our weekly group exercise class.

Doing PD Warrior at a licensed PD Warrior facility will give you the best results. Your instructor can help to tailor your program more closely to your particular needs and goals. If you train at a facility you also get the benefit of interacting with other people on a similar journey to you, a valuable experience in itself. In person sessions can be done as individual sessions or circuit classes and can all be accompanied by an online education resource.

The weekly classes costs $40.00 per session and you may be eligible to claim through your private health fund.

Contact Ramsay health plus on 02 48 612 447 to schedule an appointment or express interest.

You will require a referral from your doctor, this could be a GP, gerontologist, neurologist or other medical specialist. 

Before you are enrolled in the program, you will be assessed to ensure it is appropriate for you.

Please click on the PD Warrior website link to find out more information about the program