A Unique Approach to Treating Parkinson’s
April is recognized as Parkinson's Awareness Month as we work towards a world without Parkinson’s disease.
Every day, people in our Lowcountry Parkinson’s community face obstacles — some anticipated, others new. The specialized therapists at Horizon Rehabilitation are here to help you get back to normal life. Our LSVT BIG Program trains people with PD to use their bodies more normally. People living with PD or other neurological conditions often move differently, with gestures and actions that become smaller and slower. They may have trouble with getting around, getting dressed, and with other activities of daily living.
Individualized Parkinson’s Treatment
LSVT BIG effectively trains improved movements for any activity, whether “small motor” tasks like buttoning a shirt or “large motor” tasks like getting up from a sofa or chair or maintaining balance while walking. The treatment improves walking, self-care, and other tasks by helping people “recalibrate” how they perceive their movements with what others actually see. It also teaches them how and when to apply extra effort to produce bigger motions – more like the movements of everyone around them.
Since LSVT BIG treatment is customized to each person's specific needs and goals, it can help regardless of the stage or severity of your condition. The treatment may be most effective in the early or middle stages of the condition when the patient can both improve function and potentially slow further symptom progression. LSVT BIG can produce significant improvements even for people facing considerable physical difficulties.
Unique Rehabilitation for Parkinson’s
The collective elements in LSVT BIG add up to a unique program that offers many positive results for people with PD:
LSVT BIG treatment is delivered one-on-one and is tailored to each person’s own abilities and goals so that they work towards what's meaningful to them.
It requires (and can only be given by) an LSVT BIG Certified Clinician as part of prescribed physical or occupational therapy like those with Horizon Rehabilitation.
The holistic approach addresses not only movement issues but also takes into account non-motor symptoms including emotional changes and cognitive changes.
It helps people "recalibrate" to recognize when their movements are smaller or slower than they think.
Its sessions are based on the most effective, evidence-based strategies for learning and neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to change).
It's designed to help people apply what they learn in treatment sessions to more comfortable, confident movements in everyday life beyond treatment sessions.
What LSVT BIG Improves
With exercises involving the whole-body — personalized for each person but all built around “Think BIG!” as a guiding principle — LSVT BIG reteaches you how normal movement should feel. Often these movements seem strange at first — too big, even though they’re comparable to those of people all around you. Over time, you learn to recognize these larger movements as normal.
Specifically, research shows that LSVT BIG treatment can lead to faster walking with bigger steps and arm swings, better balance and more ability to twist at the waist. Clinicians also report that LSVT BIG often helps people with buttoning their clothes, writing and other smaller-movement (“small motor”) tasks, as well large (“large motor”) movements like dressing, getting up from a seat and getting into bed.
Because PD makes it harder to remember to use these bigger movements consistently, treatment includes a lot of repetition and progressive challenges, as well as daily home practice and assignments for using bigger movements in everyday life.
Ultimately, LSVT BIG helps improve the mismatch between what you feel you're doing and what you're actually doing, making you more confident, comfortable and empowered. With one month of hard work, LSVT BIG can open doors to a more active and independent life.
Direct Access to Physical Therapy
No referral is needed. We offer a variety of specialized physical therapy services in the Lowcountry where you can get help from our trusted and expert therapists. We have locations in Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Okatie. Call today to start your physical therapy evaluation.