Two programs at Horizon Health help individuals with Parkinson’s
disease improve their quality of life--LSVT BIG & LSVT Loud. These
programs are designed to improve speech and body movement, which the disease
primarily affects. The programs are led by certified licensed therapists
in Horizon Health’s
Rehabilitation Services Department.
LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG were founded by Dr. Lorraine Ramig, a professor at the University of Colorado-Boulder.
Her work to develop an effective speech treatment for people with Parkinson’s
disease began in the 1980s when she met Mrs. Lee Silverman. Dr. Ramig’s
speech treatment protocol, called Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT
LOUD), was later expanded to a physical and occupational therapy program
called LSVT BIG.
For more information about both programs, call Horizon Health’s Rehabilitation
Services Department at
(217) 466-4244.
“LSVT BIG” Program
This one-on-one physical therapy program focuses on improving body movements.
This involves refining smaller movements, such as self-care, to larger
movements like getting up from a sofa or maintaining balance while walking.
The program’s guiding principle is “Think BIG!” as it
reteaches patients how normal movement should feel.
LSVT BIG involves 16 one-hour sessions spread over four weeks. In addition
to the sessions, participants are directed to practice their exercises
while at home. Home exercise is critical to successful treatment.
“LSVT LOUD” Program
This program is considered the “gold standard” of speech treatment
for people with Parkinson’s disease. The one-on-one sessions improve
communication by helping the patient speak with a voice and volume that
is easy for others to hear and understand.
Exercises help strengthen the voice box (larynx), speech system, and “reset”
the patient’s perception of how loud he or she is speaking. As a
result, patients can experience better articulation, changes in swallowing,
improved facial expressions while talking, and even speech-related brain changes.
Like LSVT BIG, LSVT LOUD involves 16 one-hour sessions spread over four
weeks and home practice is essential for success.
Podcasts
Parkinson's Therapy
Brenda Stevens, speech-language pathologist, and
Annie Barrett, doctor of physical therapy, discuss Parkinson's disease and therapy.
They explain the disease and helpful programs, including offered at Horizon Health.
Physical Therapy, Rehab ServicesView Profile
