Quick Reference Cards for physiotherapists working with people with Parkinson’s disease

A group of UK clinical, research and academic physiotherapists have worked together to review the four Quick Reference Cards (QRC) developed by the Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy in 2004. They have adapted them for use in relation to UK physiotherapy practice with Parkinson’s disease, in the hope of providing standardised guidance to clinicians. The Quick Reference Cards (QRC) relate to best practice in Parkinson’s disease in relation to the diagnostic processes (QRC 1: History-taking; QRC 2: Physical examination), and the therapeutic processes (QRC 3: Specific treatment goals and QRC 4: Treatment strategies).

The initiative was initially driven by the Parkinson’s Disease Society in the UK, supported by AGILE (chartered physiotherapists working with older people) and ACPIN (Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology), clinical interest groups of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Use of these QRCs will prepare the ground for the National Audit being planned to review implementation of the NICE Guideline for Parkinson’s disease (2006).

Ramaswamy B, Jones D, Goodwin V, Lindop F, Ashburn A, Keus S, Rochester L, Durrant K (2009). Quick Reference Cards (UK) and Guidance Notes for physiotherapists working with people with Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s Disease Society, London.