Sept. 16, 2026
Photos by Abbie Lankitus
As Roberta Rynning walked laps around a local indoor track, Maya Hartz, a doctoral student studying physical therapy at the University of Missouri’s College of Health Sciences, kept pace, offering guidance and encouragement along the way.
The assistance is part of the Neuro Bootcamp, a free program offered through Mizzou’s Department of Physical Therapy that helps adults, such as Rynning, with neurologic conditions transition from formal rehabilitation to lifelong healthy living. Participants with diagnoses such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis and brain injury learn how to exercise safely and effectively through activities tailored to their abilities.
“It’s a wellness bridge program,” said Anita Campbell, a teaching professor in the Department of Physical Therapy. “It is intended to help fill the gap for our community members between what is structured therapy and what is lifelong healthy living.”
Rynning saw a sign for Neuro Bootcamp while attending physical therapy sessions and decided to give the eight-session program a try.
“I figured this would be great and I could learn lots of things from them,” she said.
The program also benefits Mizzou’s physical therapy graduate students, who work directly with participants, gaining real world experience adapting exercises and wellness strategies for people with a wide range of abilities and diagnoses.
That hands-on learning helps prepare students for future clinical practice while providing participants with individualized support and encouragement.
“The idea of Neuro Bootcamp is to empower people to know how to continue to exercise in ways that are really beneficial,” Campbell said.
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