Freezing of Gait

Speaker(s): Julie Lombardi PT, DPT, NCS and Liz Horton PT, DPT

Dr. Julie Lombardi is a Board Certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist in physical therapy with a passion for working with people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as well as those with vestibular impairments. She has dedicated most of her post graduate education to learning about both of these topics to provide the most effective treatments for people with PD and or dizziness. In 2006 as a physical therapy student at Upstate Medical University she started “Smooth Moves,” a dance program for people with PD, and has since gone on to obtain certifications in RockSteady Boxing (RSB) and PD specific therapies including LSVT BIG and PWR!Moves in order to continue to provide the PD community with the most effective treatment options.

She has had the pleasure of coaching with RSB Syracuse and has continued her relationship with this organization by serving as a board member for Empower Parkinson Inc. She has also been an active educator of the local PD community with speaking at several support groups, the “Living an Active Life with PD” annual conferences, and on Upstate’s HealthLink podcast.

Liz’s professional experience as a neurologic physical therapist has been in both inpatient, home care, and outpatient rehabilitation settings in Syracuse NY, Washington, DC and Rockville, MD.​ ​During these experiences she developed a passion for working with those with PD. She truly believes in the benefits for comprehensive education and exercise for those with PD to regain quality of life.  She has received specialist certification in neurology.  She is certified in LSVT Big, Big for Life, and PWR! Movement therapies for Parkinson.  She has specialized training in vestibular conditions.  She also has completed her 200-hour yoga certification.  Liz focuses on rehabilitation of individuals with a variety of neurological diagnoses and problems with balance and dizziness.  She participates in teaching several courses as an adjunct faculty member in the physical therapy program at SUNY Upstate. She is also a co-investigator in a clinical trial at SUNY Upstate studying the benefits of a community exercise group in those with Parkinson’s Disease.  She is on several national committees and was named volunteer of the year in 2021 for the Degenerative Disease special interest group.

In Liz’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her two children, husband, and pug.  Liz loves gardening, painting, yoga, and baking with her kids.