What can a movement pattern or an assessment score tell us—and how do we connect those findings to what matters most to the patient?


In this episode of the Lewis University Health Science Podcast, Dr. Arvie Vitente welcomes Kirk Hammer, SPT, Lewis University DPT Class of 2028, for a case-based conversation about Parkinson disease. They follow Henry, a fictional patient who wants to return to volunteering at his church library, to explore the connections among movement, safety, assessment, and meaningful participation.


The conversation examines movement patterns such as bradykinesia, rigidity, freezing, and festination, along with nonmotor concerns and the role of the interprofessional care team. Dr. Vitente and Kirk also discuss medication ON and OFF states, orthostatic symptoms, and why the patient’s current response should guide the examination.  


Listeners will hear practical discussions of Hoehn and Yahr staging, the MDS-UPDRS, Mini-BESTest, and cognitive Timed Up and Go, including common interpretation mistakes and the importance of documenting exactly what was tested. The episode also considers related conditions that warrant further medical evaluation.  


Throughout the discussion, the focus returns to the person behind the findings: understanding fatigue and quality of life, listening to the patient’s priorities, and translating examination results into clear SOAP documentation and meaningful goals. The central message: assessment is not just about producing a score—it is about understanding how the findings relate to the life someone wants to live.