LSVT BIG Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease in Park Ridge, NJ

LSVT (Lee Silverman Voice Technique) is a type of specialized program to help patients with Parkinson’s disease manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. There are two types of treatment that LSVT therapy provides: LSVT Big, which is a type of physical therapy that focuses on improving the motor function of the patient, and LSVT Loud, which is a type of speech therapy that helps patients with Parkinson’s disease speak louder. The focus of these treatments is to teach patients to be big and loud, meaning to exaggerate movements and speak loudly. Both types of LSVT therapy are evidence-based and effective, providing various strategies to improve the general movement, walking, balance, and speech patterns of patients with Parkinson’s disease.

As the disease progresses, patients with Parkinson’s disease continue to lose their mobility and motor functions, making both large and small motor tasks increasingly difficult to perform. LSVT Big Therapy involves working with each patient to focus on “recalibrating” their movements to restore daily movements to be more similar to those around them. Results of this therapy include improvements with walking, self-care, and specific tasks that the patient wishes to work on, such as buttoning their shirt or getting out of a vehicle, to allow them increased independence and enjoyment in daily activities. This therapy teaches the patients how to apply extra effort for exaggerated movements and when this extra effort is necessary. Each training session will include movements that involve the entire body while moving the legs or arms as far as they can go, as well as stretches and repetitive movements that are multidirectional. The treatments will be customized depending on the specific goals and capabilities of each patient, looking different for everyone depending on the progression of the disease.

Treatment using LSVT has proven to be beneficial to patients with many different types of neurological disorders that have caused impairments in movement and communication. LSVT Loud therapy is most frequently used to help patients with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease, as they will often experience the most substantial benefits that only require annual treatments to maintain their improvements. Patients with more advanced Parkinson’s disease will also often see improvements in their speech and clarity, but it is unlikely that it will be to the same extent as those who haven’t progressed that much yet. LSVT has provided patients with other types of cognitive impairments, such as dementia, with substantial improvements, but they are more likely to face memory problems following treatments, making it more difficult for them to continue using what they learn. Additionally, children with Down syndrome or cerebral palsy have been shown to benefit from LSVT Loud treatments, with new research continuing to be completed in this field that is providing promising results.

A typical treatment of LSVT therapy will involve at least one month of initial treatments that will include daily practices and exercises, followed by recommended practice involving 10 to 15 minutes daily to continue working on the new movement skills while at home. According to clinical trials and reported experiences from patients, the expected longevity of treatment following this initial treatment is anywhere from 12 weeks to 6 months in those with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Patients will most likely require regular additional treatment after 12 weeks to 6 months have passed to continue improving their motor skills and mobility with a specialist to decrease the symptoms of their disease. There are community-based exercise classes available for patients who have completed their initial LSVT treatments to help maintain the improvements they achieved and reinforce the skills they learned in therapy while working alongside other patients.

LSVT-BIG is an innovative physical therapy approach that helps people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological diseases improve their strength, motor learning, and cognitive function. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are located at 146 Kinderkamack Rd Suite D, Park Ridge, NJ 07656. We serve patients from Montvale NJ, Closter NJ, Park Ridge NJ, Westwood NJ, Hillsdale NJ, Woodcliff Lake NJ, Alpine NJ, Englewood NJ, Hackensack NJ, Dumont NJ, and surrounding areas.