Wellness & Exercise for Parkinson's

Hofstra University presents Wellness & Exercise for Parkinson’s (WE-PD at HU), an innovative program designed to enhance the well-being of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PwPD) on Long Island. This program offers:

• Evidence-Based Exercise Classes – A 10-week group exercise class, held twice weekly in fall and spring, combining warm-ups, aerobics, balance training, strength exercises, and cooldowns. Classes are led by trained fitness instructors or physical therapists.
• Wellness Education Series – Expert-led demonstrations about wellness programs for people with PD. Topics include Dance for PD, LSVT therapy, Art Therapy, and Rock Steady Boxing.
• Undergraduate Experiential Learning (EXPH 179) – A hands-on course where students interested in the health sciences gain real-world experience assisting in exercise sessions, learning basic healthcare skills, and engaging with people with PD under faculty guidance.

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Supported, in part, by a Parkinson's Foundation Community Grant.

In The News

Hofstra’s School of Health Sciences is hosting a Wellness and Exercise for Parkinson’s Disease class that has become a hub of activity and connection between students and community members.

Read the News Article

Built on the success of a similar long-running program, WE-PD at HU fosters interdisciplinary learning while improving mobility, balance, and overall wellness for people with PD. The program’s structured approach could serve as a national model for universities looking to integrate exercise science with community health initiatives.

Join us in advancing Parkinson’s care at Hofstra University!

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Meet our Faculty & Staff

Rebecca States, MA, PhD
Director, Wellness & Exercise for Parkinson’s Disease at Hofstra University (WE-PD at HU)
Co-author, Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grant for WE-PD at HU 
Professor of Physical Therapy, Hofstra University

Todd Smith, BA, CSCS
Fitness Instructor for WE-PD at HU
Consultant for EXPH-179 course
Performance Coach and Consultant

Yasser Salem, PT, PhD, MS, NCS, PCS
Program Director, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Hofstra University
Co-author, Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grant for WE-PD at HU
Professor of Physical Therapy, Hofstra University

Corinne Kyriacou, PhD, MPH, BA
Vice Dean for Administration; Vice Dean for Health Science
Co-author, Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grant for WE-PD at HU
Associate Professor of Population Health 

Associated Undergraduate Course

EXPH 179 – Exercise Training for Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
This experiential learning course provides students an opportunity to gain practical experience working with individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD) through a fun and active fitness class on campus. Students will learn to coach individuals with PD and work as a team in a group exercise class tailored to individuals with PD. The course is offered by the Department of Allied Health & Kinesiology and is open to all students. This course is great for students considering careers in fitness or the health professions, or who want to know more about Parkinson’s disease and working with older adults. The only pre-req is a CPR/AED certification. For more information: Katie.Sell@hofstra.edu or Rebecca.States@hofstra.edu

Related Research

States, R. A., Salem Y., & Kyriacou, C. (accepted for 5/7-10/2025). Building a university-based exercise/wellness program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.  30th World Congress on Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders. New York, NY. 
States RA, Salem Y, Kyriacou C.  Wellness and Exercise for Parkinson’s Disease at Hofstra University (WE-PD at HU). 7/1/2024-6/30/2025, Parkinson's Foundation Community Grant. 
States RA, Dewan B, Lynam P, Mensah N & Pottorf O (2024). Group exercise for balance in people with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis, Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2024.2374063.
States, R. A., Salem, Y., Kyriacou, C. (Oct 9, 2024). Wellness and Exercise for Parkinson’s Disease (WE-PD at HU). Faculty Research Day 2024. Hofstra University, Hempstead. NY. 
Moya-Galé, G., Rossi, A., and States, R. A. (2020). A community-based program for exercise and social participation for individuals with Parkinson’s disease: a multidisciplinary model. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 5(5), 1290-1296. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_PERSP-20-00031
Cleary, A. S., Rossi, A., and States, R. A. (2020). Parkinson’s disease—Exploring motives for long-term adherence to a group exercise program. Rehabilitation Nursing. 45(3), 131-139. Doi: 10.1097/rnj.0000000000000187.
Rossi, A., Torres-Panchame, R., Gallo, P., Marcus, A. and States, R. (2018).  What makes a group fitness program for people with Parkinson’s disease endure? A mixed-methods study of multiple stakeholders.  Complimentary Therapies in Medicine. 41, 320-327. doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2018.08.012. 
States, R.A., Sweeny, T.L., Rossi, A., Spierer, D.K., and Salem, Y.  (2017). Physical functioning after 1, 3, and 5 years of exercise among people with Parkinson's disease: A longitudinal observational study. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy, 40(3), 127-134. DOI: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000084.
States, R. A., Spierer, D. K, and Salem, Y. (2011). Long-term group exercise for people with Parkinson’s disease: a feasibility study.  Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, 35, 122-128. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0b013e31822a0026.