The Center For Movement Challenges (CFMC)™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping people living with Parkinson’s and other movement challenges through exercise programs, community resources, and wellness partnerships.
The Mission
The CFMC™ mission is to enhance and potentially prolong the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease and movement challenges with the goal of slowing disease progression, lessening symptom severity, enhancing safety, prolonging independence, encouraging socialization and providing essential resources to support physical, emotional and cognitive well-being through exercise, wellness, education, and community engagement.
CANDID GOLD SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY
Our Vision: Helping TODAY!
Our goal is simple: to help people live a better and longer life to its absolute fullest potential TODAY.
What Makes Us Different?
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION: ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, EVERYONE!
To ensure we reach everyone in need, CFMC™ offers diverse
programs and services that are accessible to all:
In-person Programs
120 exercise classes/month, partnering wellness services (physical, occupational, speech, massage therapists, social worker, nutritionist) offered in a centralized location at our facility in Sandy Springs, Georgia, within the Walter and Estelle Strauss Wellness Center.
Live Virtual Classes
Available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for those who prefer remote participation with live interaction.
Online Digital Platform
Reaching the Underserved:
The on-line platform directly reaches people living with Parkinson’s who previously had limited or no access to specialized care, diverse exercise and wellness programs and services. For those on the fringes, where resources are scarce and opportunities limited, digital platforms offer a lifeline, a bridge to previously unavailable care.
Tele-Health
Many people are unable to travel to healthcare appointments. Many rural or remote regions lack sufficient healthcare infrastructure or neurology specialists, leaving patients in these areas isolated from critical medical support and specialized care. By partnering with tele-health providers within Synapticure, CFMC bridges this gap for both delivering expert consultations, symptom management, and remote monitoring directly to participants' homes. Available nationwide.
Community Connection
CFMC™ is more than a program—it's a community.
We offer a safe and supportive space for participants and care partners to connect, share experiences, and find strength together.
Mental Health and Social Connectivity
The program emphasizes mental health and social connectivity through dedicated in-person and on-line communities.
Support Groups
In-person and on-line Support Sessions are led by experienced facilitators who ensure a respectful, supportive, and confidential environment. Here participants and care partners can share experiences, seek support, and connect with others facing similar challenges helping to reduce feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety.
Forums and Chat
A space for participants to build friendships and knowledge; a place to network with our professionals as well as other participants and ask questions, share advice, success stories, and challenges.
Education and Empowerment
Access to comprehensive materials, each offering deep insights to educate participants, their families and care partners about Parkinson's disease, medication adherence, treatment options, lifestyle adjustments, strategies for symptom management, the latest research updates and much more, empowering them with knowledge and resources to proactively manage their condition.
Our Educational Offering
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CFMC’s monthly educational workshops and blogs
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CFMC’s powerpoint and video libraries of presentations
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Links to community events, educational workshops and research programs (PD GENEration)
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Resource Center
Join our CFMC™ family today! Together, we can support your journey with possibilities, opportunity and HOPE.
ANYTIME. ANYWHERE. EVERYONE!
Why Exercise?
Exercise is a vital component for people diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis. Exercise can assist in targeting and improving both motor and non-motor symptoms. Previously, exercise and physical therapy were viewed only as "adjunctive" or "helpful".
Research now proves that exercise is critical to PD treatments and helps improve brain and body functions. Aside from taking medications on time, exercise is the single most important activity to manage movement challenges and lead the best possible life. Medications improve symptoms; only exercise can slow the progression of the disease.
Exercise promotes Neuroplasticity: the ability of the nerve networks in the brain to change and improve function by making new pathways through growth, reorganization, strengthening and repair.
The organization works with goal-based exercises. In neuro-rehabilitation it is important to incorporate goal directed motor skill learning including repetition, intensity and challenge, which together with skill training leads to improvement in motor performance, as well as cognitive engagement.