Parallel development of Parkinson's-specific competencies for exercise professionals and criteria for exercise education programs

The Parkinson's Foundation sought to develop Parkinson's specific competencies for exercise professionals who work with people with Parkinson's (PwP). These competencies built upon exercise guidelines and professional competencies for healthy populations. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the professional competencies, continuing education criteria, and a pilot accreditation process. Competency development included: (1) an expert panel conducting an environmental scan, within the USA, related to exercise professional education in Parkinson's and synthesizing Parkinson's-specific exercise guidelines, (2) surveying people with Parkinson's in the USA, and (3) developing the competencies and curriculum criteria with psychometricians. A pilot accreditation process for Parkinson's exercise educational programs and continuing education courses includes an application, baseline, 6- and 12-month assessments. Activities reported here did not require ethical review. The survey was approved by NORC at the University of Chicago's Institutional Review Board (IRB). The environmental scan, exercise guidelines, and survey (n = 627) informed competency development. The five key condition-specific domains were: (1) foundational information on the disease and role of exercise, (2) exercise screening, (3) group and individual exercise design, (4) behavior and counseling for exercise, and (5) interprofessional communication and program development. Seven applicants were accredited as certification programs (n = 3) or continuing education courses (n = 4). The competencies, curriculum criteria, and accreditation processes support exercise professionals working with PwP. Reducing variation in the knowledge and skills of exercise professionals can improve the safe implementation and effectiveness of exercise programs, which are a critical part of integrated plan for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). •Exercise professionals are key Parkinson's team members, who provide exercise leadership, social support, and motivation.•Developing professional competencies will reduce variability in the delivery of exercise to people with Parkinson's.•Cirricula criteria for Parkinson's exercise professionals' education should address their heterogeneous backgrounds.