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ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description

October 17–19, 2026

The Embassy Suites, Brea, California

2026 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions

October 17–19, 2026 | Brea, CA

The following is the Session Descriptions for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. All sessions, times, and presenter information have been confirmed, though final adjustments may occur due to unforeseen circumstances onsite.

For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance

For information on our On Demand Conference offerings, please visit: ATRA SoCal On Demand

Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending fr all sessions for CEUs.

Once the program is pre-approved; For questions related to specialty certification areas, please refer to the PDF version of the program for designation icons and CEU-eligible sessions.

Code of Conduct:
All attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and guests are expected to uphold the ATRA Conference Code of Conduct.
To review the Code, view it here.

Note on Non-ATRA Activities:

Please note that any events or activities not listed in the official ATRA SoCal program are independently organized and not affiliated or sponsored by ATRA. ATRA is not responsible for independently coordinated events, meetups or activities not articulated in this program. Individuals interested in non-ATRA sponsored activities should contact their respective organizations directly for details.

Adaptive Boxing: Effectiveness of an Exercise Group for Anxiety, Depressive Symptoms, and Self-Confidence in Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease

Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 6:00 PM–7:00 PM PDT
Poster Gallery
Session Description

An exercise program designed for community-dwelling individuals with Parkinson's disease was evaluated for the effect it had on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-confidence. The program occurred once a week for about 45-50 minutes and consisted of a warm-up, strength exercises, balance exercises, adaptive boxing, gait training, and a tai chi cool down. The strength exercises consisted of seated exercises utilizing a 4lbs medball. For balance, different stances were used while challenging the vestibular system by following commands "left, right, up, down," imitating real-life distractions that affect balance. The gait training was performed by implementing an obstacle course that ended in a corn hole game. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES) were used to examine outcomes. Wilcoxon signed rank testing was used to analyze the data. Results indicate that the protocol used may combat progression of Parkinson's disease symptoms.

Learning Outcomes

1. To increase knowledge of the exercise protocol utilized 2. To identify at least 3 outcomes that the research has suggested 3. To identify how to bridge the gap from the research presented to practice

Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Older Adults
Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine
Research
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals

Primary Presenter

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Chase Elizabeth Decker, Oklahoma State University
Biographical Information

Chase Decker is a master's student at Oklahoma State University working as a graduate assistant for the recreational therapy program. Alongside the program this research is over and under the guidance of Dr. Tim Passmore, she is one of the leaders for an adaptive boxing group for individuals with Parkinson's disease and a once-weekly balance group at an adult day center (various populations). She helps out in the child development lab and warm water therapy pool as well. Previously, she worked alongside Dr. Betsy Kemeny on a NCTRC study used to establish guidelines for equine usage in recreational therapy as well as an adaptive riding research project examining the effectiveness of adaptive horseback riding as a means of falls prevention for older adults with neurological impairments. She has also worked alongside Dr. Heather Bright in examining interprofessional education on the Slippery Rock University campus.

Co-Presenter/Panelists

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Elley Holder, Oklahoma State University
Credentials

Student in Recreational Therapy

Biographical Information

Elley Holder is a junior in the Recreational Therapy program at Oklahoma State University, where she maintains a 4.0 GPA and serves as Vice President and Treasurer of the OSU Recreational Therapy Club. Her clinical and research interests center on adult and older adult physical rehabilitation. Elley volunteers in the longitudinal study related to recreational therapy interventions for individuals living in the community with Parkinson's disease, where she co-leads adaptive boxing sessions incorporating dual-task training, balance and gait interventions, and structured strength programming for individuals across varying stages of the disease. Her hands-on facilitation experience with this population directly informed the research presented in this proposal. Elley is a student member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association. Following her junior year, she will complete a summer internship with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is passionate about advancing the evidence base for recreational therapy in physical rehabilitation and neurological populations.

[photo]
Dr. Tim Passmore, CTRS/L, FDRT, Oklahoma State University
Credentials

Ed.,D., CTRS/L, FDRT, ATRA Fellow

Biographical Information

Professor in Recreational Therapy, Interim School Head of Kinesiology, Applied Health and Recreation, Fellow Distinguished in Recreational Therapy, ATRA Fellow, Editor in Chief of the American Journal of Recreational Therapy.

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