Office of Primary Care and Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

UVMMC neurologist James Boyd, M.D., Robert W. Hamill, M.D., Green and Gold Professor of Neurological Sciences at the Larner College of Medicine

(OCTOBER 23, 2024) UVMMC neurologist James Boyd, M.D., Robert W. Hamill, M.D., Green and Gold Professor of Neurological Sciences at the Larner College of Medicine, spoke with WCAX-TV about a special rehab gym program for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

The Rehab Gym in Barre, in partnership with the UVM Health Network, has held the Push Back program for Parkinson’s patients since 2019. It’s typically held for 12 weeks and focuses on higher-intensity workouts to improve strength, agility, and flexibility.

“There is a lot of evidence—and growing evidence—that exercise is beneficial potentially in terms of preservation of brain function,” Boyd said. “As we are thinking about something that is a neurodegenerative condition, it’s a progressive brain disorder. Anything we can do to preserve brain function would be obviously a goal.”