20 Interventions for Parkinson’s Disease – LSVT BIG
Gabe Byars, OTR/L; Jennifer Parker, OTAS; Zachary Jones, OTAS; and Zachary Payne, OTAS
Background
Parkinson’s disease occurs in and impairs the neurons of the brain that create dopamine. With this dopamine production being impaired, someone with Parkinson’s can feel like they are talking or walking at a normal rate or volume, but in reality, they are moving and speaking a lot smaller and quieter than they perceive themselves to be. During this lab, you will learn about an intervention protocol called Lee Silverman Voice Treatment BIG (LSVT BIG). LSVT BIG consists of a series of exercises and activities that the occupational therapy (OT) practitioner can use to help retrain a client to move BIG and LOUD.
During today’s lab, think back to what you have learned previously about neuroplasticity. We’ve discussed that it is necessary for tasks to be meaningful, challenging, and performed repetitively to result in neuroplasticity. The LSVT BIG program is built around these principles.
LSVT BIG and LOUD
This video introduces to the OT practitioner the rationale and evidence supporting LSVT BIG and LOUD.
LSVT Introdction Video Transcript
LSVT Big Example
This video published by LSVT Global shows an individual before (left) and after (right) undergoing LSVT Big. What differences do you see between the two videos?
LSVT Loud Example
This video published by LSVT Global presents a client both before and after undergoing LSVT Loud. What differences do you notice between the before and after clips?
LSVT LOUD Speech Therapy for Parkinson Disease Video Transcript
LSVT Generalization
This video discusses how the OT practitioner can generalize LSVT into other functional tasks.
LSVT Generalization Video Transcript
LSVT Functional Tasks
This video published by LSVT Global demonstrates how the principles of BIG movements can be applied to functional tasks, like buttoning a shirt. The video demonstrates how the OT practitioner can train their client to use big hand flicks and bring in emotion to stimulate bigger, more efficient movements.
LSVT BIG Can Improve Buttoning Video Transcript
LSVT BIG
This video published by LSVT Global demonstrates the broad impact that LSVT BIG can have for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. These are pre to post treatment videos of a man with Parkinson’s disease who completed LSVT BIG.
LSVT BIG is an evidence-based intervention protocol: The treatment plan consists of one-hour sessions, four times per week, for four weeks and includes daily homework and carryover exercises.
