Benefits of Physical Therapy, Speech Pathology to be Highlighted at St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group …

St. Augustine, Florida (PRWEB) February 14, 2015

The St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group will welcome guest speakers Amanda Griener, a physical therapist at STARS Rehab, and Rosemary Brigham, a speech-language pathologist at Brooks Rehabilitation, to its monthly meeting on Saturday, Feb. 21, to discuss how people with Parkinsons can use both the BIG and LOUD therapies to increase mobility and vocal quality. The event is free and open to the public.

Amanda Griener is a trained practitioner of the BIG method of treatment, a high-intensity, physical training designed to increase amplitude of limb and body movement for those with Parkinsons and other neurological diseases. Griener holds a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

Rosemary Brigham is a speech-language pathologist who specializes in the LOUD method of treatment, which improves vocal loudness by stimulating the muscles of the voice box and speech mechanism through a systematic order of exercises.

Griener and Brigham are well-known clinicians in the St. Augustine area and the surrounding communities with extensive experience treating patients with Parkinsons. Both have spoken to the St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group separately in the past, but Februarys meeting brings them, and the opportunity to learn about BIG and LOUD, together for the first time.

Parkinsons disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that gradually affects patients movements through tremors, stiffness or slowing of movement. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinsons each year, but this number does not reflect the thousands of cases that go undetected. An estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide live with the disease.

What: St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group Who: Guest speakers Amanda Griener, a physical therapist at STARS Rehab, and Rosemary Brigham, a speech-language pathologist at Brooks Rehabilitation When: 2 p.m., Feb. 21, 2015 Where: University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Room 103, 1 University Blvd., St Augustine, Florida Contact: Melanie Lomaglio, 904-826-0084, ext. 1270, faculty member at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

About the St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group The St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group supports patients with Parkinsons disease by offering year-round resources and access to safe, affordable community-based programs. The group meets every month, alternating a social gathering at City Coffee Company on N. Ponce de Leon Boulevard with events that host notable speakers who discuss their research and share information to help Parkinsons patients take control of their own treatment and live healthy lives. The group is led by Ms. Melanie Lomaglio, an assistant professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.

About the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is a graduate institution that emphasizes health science education through innovative quality classroom and distance education, and is a member of the Laureate International Universities network. Founded in 1979, USA has locations in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine, Florida; and Austin, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.usa.edu.

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Benefits of Physical Therapy, Speech Pathology to be Highlighted at St. Augustine Parkinsons Disease Support Group ...