Yvonne Gibson has Parkinson’s Disease, a progressive neurological disorder affecting more than 1.5 million Americans.
But she’s taking therapeutic steps now in a program called LSVT BIG to slow Parkinson’s symptoms. Her therapists — physical Therapist Anna Castillo and certified occupational therapy assistant Tiffany Johnson — instruct Gibson in repetitive high-amplitude movements.
LSVT BIG is a physical and occupational therapy program derived from the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD speech therapy program, which instructs patients in large, multi-directional whole-body movements, “BIG walking” and functional activities specific to each person.
LSVT BIG is a standard, evidence-based protocol provided in individual one-hour therapy sessions and governed by physical and occupational therapists certified in this program.
Typically covered by insurance, LSVT BIG can be used to help people with all stages of Parkinson's Disease and has application to other neurological disorders, as well.
“Step out and land BIG,'” instructs Castillo while guiding Gibson into an exaggeration of leg and arm actions.
“It feels a bit strange to go so big with my movements,” says Gibson, “but I already have more confidence with walking.”
“Now push your left foot into the floor while reaching out to the right side with ‘BIG’ arms open wide and palms up,” Castillo says as she guides her patient.
“I really don’t know how bad this (Parkinson’s) is going to get,” says Gibson.
She fears what most people do, which are the tremors.
“Parkinson’s can offset balance,” says Castillo. “Tremors while walking can decrease feelings of confidence and set us up for a fall… but what I like about ‘BIG’ therapy is that it brings back feelings of security while functioning and walking.
“We’re trying to push patients to perform large movements at a patient-perceived effort level of eight or more…that’s on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest effort level on every repetition.”
"The goal of LSVT BIG is to improve movement perception. We’re trying to recalibrate dysfunctional movement patterns brought on by any number of neurological diseases,” says Johnson. She adds that Parkinson's Disease happens to be the largest offender of robbing normal movement.
Intensive training with "BIG" can improve motor performance "to an extent comparable to current drug treatment," says Dr. Georg Ebersbach, from the Movement Disorders Clinic, Beelitz-Heilstatten, Germany.
In Ebersbach’s comparative study published in “Movement Disorders,” four weeks of supervised physiotherapy consisting of recurring high-amplitude movements revealed greater improvements in motor performance in patients with Parkinson's Disease than either Nordic walking or non-supervised in-home exercises.
“I believe that training 'BIG' is a notch above average exercises, because the program is intentionally aimed to stress existing movement behaviors in order to learn a safer and more functional way to move,” says Castillo.
LSVT treatment can help 90 percent of Parkinson's patients, according to extensive clinical trials from LSVT Global online. The results show a positive impact for patients, but anyone with conditions of stroke, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis can improve movement disorders.
The value of the "BIG" movements approach becomes evident with patients newfound freedom in everyday living.
“I can now do things like never before,” says Gibson.
“If you have a neurological condition that needs help, ask your doctor about LSVT BIG,” says Castillo.
She says that current research shows that people shouldn’t wait for the oncoming disability, impaired function and loss of balance that a neurological disease brings.
“You can get a head start on Parkinson’s,” says Johnson, “by entering an LSVT programs earlier within the Parkinson’s disease progression…that way individuals can maintain their quality of life for many years before symptoms affect daily living.”
For more information regarding LSVT Big, call Melbourne Terrace Rehabilitation Center at (321) 725-3990. With a certification from LSVT Global, therapists offer treatment at 251 E. Florida Ave., Melbourne, FL.32901
Laureen Albrecht specializes in physical therapy and senior wellness and writes for Melbourne Terrace Rehabilitation, 251 Florida Avenue East, Melbourne FL – Call 321-725-3990 for senior therapy info. They offer comprehensive rehabilitative outpatient and inpatient services for short or long term care.
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/life/wellness/2018/09/18/big-treatment-helps-slow-parkinsons-effects/1292286002/
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