'Parky goes Techno!': developing the possibilities and probabilities - Parkinson's, music and the dance

The unique feature of our journey is the real-life 24-7 experiences of Parkinson's, rather than the snapshot of what is the focus of some research. The story captures achievements and differences which can be made to people's lives. Our now new friends. (N=10) who live with and without Parkinson's join virtually to become involved in the dance and physical activity sessions. The findings highlight the feeling of wellbeing, a strengthening of the body which in turn facilitates balance, coordination, stability, endurance, flexibility, mobility and so on, above all, the fun of joining in. The journey has evolved with communications to representatives (N=20) of several All Party Parliamentary Groups (N=9) and two specific organisations. The increasing number of participants with and without Parkinson's who wish to join our small group collaborations is especially reassuring. The challenge now is to revisit the communicative opportunities with a view to raising the profile of Parkinson's. The alignment of a cross-collaborative All Party Parliamentary Group to review a proposal for further development and training of specifically qualified practitioners would be especially powerful. If the alternative therapies were then adopted by the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) it could potentially save millions of pounds.

Automated summary

The unique feature of our journey is the real-life 24-7 experiences of Parkinson's, capturing achievements and differences which can improve people's lives. Participants with and without Parkinson's join virtual dance and activity sessions, resulting in a sense of wellbeing and physical improvement. The challenge now is to raise the profile of Parkinson's and potentially save millions of pounds by gaining support from the UK's National Health Service.