About

Welcome! My name is Miriam Boelen. People who know me call me Mia. I  have been a physical therapist since 1978 but have specialized in the treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease (PWP) since 1990. When I started to treat PWP there was scant research regarding the physical management of PD. Research primarily addressed medical management and neuropathological processes. During that time I relied heavily on clinical observations and trial and error in attempt to most effectively help people.

From the mid 1990’s forward there was a growing body of evidence addressing the physical management of PD. However, limited information regarding PD was available in textbooks. As a clinician I wished I had a reference which would cover all the aspects of physical management relative to the physical therapy profession in addition to a global understanding of symptoms, medical management and its limitations. I felt such a reference would be a valuable resource and decided to write a book to fill this existing void. The book is finished and was published in July of 2009. It is a “how-to” comprehensive clinical guide. It walks the therapist through the steps of how to evaluate and how to perform interventions. The title is: Health Professionals Guide to Physical Management of Parkinson’s Disease. Boelen M. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL; ISBN:9780736074926.

This blog is my next endeavor.

I am often asked the following question;
“Do you know of a physical therapist who specializes in PD and practices close to where I live?”. This question is not restricted to patients. Doctors, PD organizations and colleagues also ask this question. Due to lack of resources, patients will either drive incredible distances to access a therapist, not go to therapy at all or receive therapy which does not optimally address their needs.

The purpose of this blog is to:
1. Improve availability of resources for physical therapists treating people with PD
2. Expose any possible resources to help you locate physical therapists who specialize in the treatment of PD. See the ‘Locate a PT’ tab.
3. Offer improved resources for PWP from a physical therapist’s perspective.