Patients with Parkinson’s disease now have another option for treatment of the neurological disorder. Three therapists at the Windom Area Hospital are now certified in the LSVT BIG® program, a series of therapy treatments focused on increasing the quality of life in patients.
The program consists of therapy targeted at increasing limb and body movement, along with improvement in joint range of motion, in people with Parkinson disease. Patients going through the program have seen improvements in upper and lower limb speed, balance and overall quality of life.
The treatment is administered in 16 sessions over a single month (four individual 60 minute sessions per week). This protocol was developed specifically to address the unique movement impairments for people with Parkinson disease. The protocol consists of many repetitions of core movements that are used in daily living. This type of practice is necessary to optimize learning and basically retrain the brain.
Our therapists had to attend two days of specific training in their respective discipline before becoming certified to deliver the LSVT® research-based treatments to patients.
Laridee Herding, one of the trained therapists notes, “We are already working with two patients in the program and one just said to me today that she is seeing positive changes in every aspect of her life, and she just completed week two. She noted that even beyond physical improvement, she is experiencing more mental clarity and energy for daily living. This is going to be a great program for patients at any stage of Parkinson’s.”
Progressive neurological diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease impair speech, swallowing, limb function, balance, and activities of daily living. Roughly one million American’s live with Parkinson’s, which does not have a cure nor a specific cause.
Windom Area Hospital has become more involved with Parkinson’s Disease management, also offering a monthly support group that meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Carmin Johnson, a WAH therapist, leads the group. She notes, “The Midwest has more frequent rates of Parkinson’s Disease, which tend to be higher in rural areas, and in the elderly population. As a hospital, we saw a need for both the BIG program and the support group to help those in our community that have this disease.”
Call the rehab department to find out more at 507-831-0634. Click here to learn more about our Rehab Department.