How toconduct a dose response trial of Parkinson's disease medication.

With the rapid increase in the prevalence of Parkinson's disease in Australia, it is becoming increasingly common for neurologists to refer patients to a physiotherapist for a "dose response trial" (DRT) to determine the short duration response to medication. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to perform a DRT in the in-patient ward setting.

The role of the physiotherapist in quantifying movement fluctuations in Parkinson's disease.

Although a variety of medications are used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, all have short term effects. As a result, motor performance varies over time. A key role of the physiotherapist is to measure fluctuations in the severity of movement disorders in relation to the dose and timing of anti-Parkinsonian medication with a view to: (i) optimising motor performance; (ii) targeting therapeutic interventions for times of greatest need; and (iii) communicating findings to the inter-professional team.