Parkinson's Clinic
Change text size
Lee Silverman Big Program
Physical therapists offer Lee Silverman Big Program (LSVT® BIG) for treating Parkinson's Disease. Elements of this program are used to in the treatment of MS and other neurodegenerative movement disorders that cause slowness of movement, difficulty initiating movement and impaired balance. Named LSVT® BIG, this program is designed to address these physical deficits by changing patients’ sensory awareness of their movements – in a phrase "Think BIG" whenever they move. LSVT® BIG employs many of the principles of LSVT® LOUD, a speech therapy practice.
As diseases such as Parkinson's progress, many patients develop a hunched posture accompanied by short shuffling steps. Due to the nature of the disease, patients are often unaware that their movements are not normal.
LSVT® BIG is a researched-based exercise approach that works to train patients’ sensory awareness by having them focus on making "big" movements through a specialized sequence of movement patterns that target their functional deficits. The program then addresses "big" movement throughout daily tasks such as getting up out of a chair, walking in a narrow area, reaching for objects in cupboards, etc.
LSVT® BIG includes:
- 16 individual therapy sessions.
- Therapy four days a week for four consecutive weeks.
- One hour a day session.
- Regular tune-ups every six to twelve months to sustain motivation.
- An intense home program.
BIG is a standardized exercise prescription that promotes balance, strength, motor learning and changes in brain function. It includes:
- High effort – multiple repetitions of the whole body large amplitude functional movements.
- Progressive – moving from simple real world tasks to more complex and novel functional movements.
- Continuous activity – large amplitude movements are incorporated into daily situations.
- Motivating extensive positive feedback reinforces success and teaches self-monitoring. Patients practice meaningful tasks to promote carryover to their own environment.
Learn more about LSVT®BIG by contacting MeritCare South University Physical Therapy at (701) 280-4088 or visit lsvtglobal.com.