Lifelong learner shares wisdom, improving patient care

Danielle Mulligan has a passion for working with patients with Parkinson’s disease.

Mulligan, physical therapist at UCHealth Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic – Grandview, has spent the last 23 years specializing in vestibular rehab and treating patients with Parkinson’s disease, a movement disorder that causes symptoms of rigidity, abnormality of gait and declining balance. Physical therapy can improve these symptoms, thus improving quality of life for patients and their families.

As a self-proclaimed lifelong learner, Mulligan strives to absorb new information that could help her patients and her fellow therapists. She is PWR! Parkinson Wellness Recovery certified and LSVT Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG certified. Mulligan uses both Parkinson disease-specific exercise programs that hold promise of slowing disease progression, decreasing symptoms, restoring function and improving quality of life.

PWR!’s mantra is, “Exercise IS medicine for people with Parkinson disease.”

“People with Parkinson’s respond to exercise,” Mulligan said. “It has been proven that the right medication and exercise improves the quality of life. So it’s a natural fit for therapy.”

Eager to share her passion and knowledge with others, Mulligan recently came in on her day off to provide an in-person workshop for therapists to improve their ability to treat patients with Parkinson’s disease.

“I wanted to spread the news,” Mulligan said. “I am so passionate about it and I just thought other people might be interested in learning it.”

Mulligan shared her clinical expertise and therapy tools during the two-hour workshop. One participant noted, “Not only was the workshop informative, [Mulligan] also made it fun for all participants!”

Mulligan aims to create a fun atmosphere for patients. She believes an interactive learning experience improves patient care. She even created a YouTube channel to assist her patients with their physical therapy homework, as sometimes it’s easier to remember exercises with a visual representation of movements.

“I came to UCHealth because I wanted to help on a bigger scale,” Mulligan said. “I love all the training here, that we can learn from each other. I love the team we have.”