At 72, Nigel from Maylands, WA, is showing Parkinson’s disease who’s boss. Diagnosed 7 years ago, Nigel isn’t letting anything hold him back. With a passion for staying active and a determination to remain independent, Nigel is thriving—thanks to support from his allied health team and Homecare provider Dovida Perth North East
Each week, Concentric Exercise Physiologist Dani visits Nigel at home, where they work through Parkinson’s disease specific exercises—a targeted program designed to retrain the brain and slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms.
“Nigel is incredibly driven,” Dani says. “He loves his golf, values his independence, and wants to keep doing meaningful things—like walking his dog Charlie with his wife Ruth or getting back on his bike.”
The Parkinson’s disease specific exercise program includes:
- 💪 High-energy, task-specific movement training
- 🤸 Balance, strength, and coordination exercises
- 🗣️ Voice projection techniques to maintain communication skills
Dani incorporates boxing into their home exercise sessions, encouraging Nigel to project his voice with every punch—keeping both his body and voice active.
Outside of therapy, Nigel swims 500 metres weekly and still hits the local golf course. His lifelong love for fitness—running, squash, cycling, and swimming—has given him a strong foundation to keep moving forward post-diagnosis.
In just six weeks of working with Dani, Nigel has shown huge improvements:
- 🦵 Better motor control (think: stairs, walking the dog)
- 🤹♂️ Smoother coordination
- 🚶♂️ Increased confidence in everyday activities
In addition to Dani, Nigel and Ruth are supported by a close-knit team including a GP, neurologist, speech therapist, and their Homecare provider case manager. Nigel says, “I’d love to ride a bike again and walk to the local golf club and around the river. I hope that by doing these specific exercises I will be able to do that.”
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and coordination. It’s caused by a loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
📊 Key facts:
- 219,000 Australians are living with PD
- 38 new diagnoses every day
- Most people are diagnosed at around 65 years
- Men are more commonly affected than women
How Concentric Can Help
Concentric supports clients with Parkinson’s disease through:
✅ PD Warrior classes in our Community clinics
✅ Homecare services with trained allied health professionals
✅ Tailored 1:1 therapy programs for all stages of Parkinson’s disease in our Community clinics and Wellness Centres
💬 Want to find out more?
Contact our Support Team at support@concentric.com.au or call 1300 148 160.
Here are some videos and images of Nigel’s session with Dani.
