Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders in the world. What often starts as hand tremors can progress until patients experience a huge functional loss that impacts their independence. Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, various treatments can relieve symptoms and help patients maintain their quality of life. Physical therapy is an important part of a treatment plan for Parkinson’s disease. One of our many goals as physical therapy providers is to help individuals with Parkinson’s disease remain active and independent as long as possible. 

Overall, physical therapy can help with the following issues Parkinson’s Disease patients experience:

• Increasing endurance
• Strengthening muscles
• Reducing muscle stiffness
• Improving gait
• Reducing freezing episodes
• Improving balance and coordination
• Increasing flexibility
• Improving posture
• Decreasing falls
• Reducing pain

Because physical therapy improves motor skills and decreases pain, you can expect it to help with many of your regular activities, such as getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, and getting into and out of a car.

HealthQuest Speciality Parkinson’s Disease Treatments

At HealthQuest Physical Therapy, we offer many treatment techniques and tools to help our patients. For those suffering from Parkinson’s Disease, we proudly offer:

What is PWR!4Life?

PWR!4Life™ is a dynamic approach to Parkinson’s rehabilitation. It is a comprehensive neuroplasticity-principled program that integrates the latest research on Parkinson’s disease, Exercise, and Wellness. PWR! refers constantly back to the newest research available on Parkinson’s Disease and is therefore regularly updated to provide the most scientific approach to rehab.

PWR! Moves

PWR!Moves® offers a flexible and functional amplitude-focused exercise approach that targets multiple symptoms and allows for adaptation for disease severity. PWR!Moves can be combined and progressed into a stand-alone group program or integrated into ANY exercise program, ANY activity, in ANY setting.

PWR!Moves® is a standardized treatment protocol used for the improvement of both gross and fine motor skills for people with Parkinson’s Disease. This form of treatment is customized to the specific needs and goals of each patient, and it can be adapted or progressed in order to meet such needs. Adaptation to Parkinson’s patients of all levels is possible by maintaining two basic principles of PWR!Moves®:

1) Vigorous Aerobic Activity

2) Progressive Resistive Exercise Training.

Due to its focus on improving extension patterns, it can be used to treat back pain or general weakness resulting from a vast variety of diseases, impairments, and conditions, which may fluctuate in severity from patient to patient. For more information regarding PWR!Moves® treatments and how they may benefit you or someone you love, contact HealthQuest Physical Therapy today.

What is LSVT Big®?

LSVT Big® is a form of treatment that may be unknown to most. LSVT stands for “Lee Silverman Voice Treatment” and has two branches that come off of it – “Big” and “Loud.” These treatments are expanded from existing software used to help with speech.

While this is a treatment that is primarily done with Parkinson’s patients, it can be used to treat numerous other conditions, as well. It is based on the principle of neuroplasticity, which refers to the ability of the nervous system to change in response to signals – essentially, the brain’s capability of learning and changing.

In fact, scientific research done on the results of LSVT Big® has reported significant progress in several categories for people struggling with Parkinson’s Disease, including:

• Improved balance
• Increased trunk rotation
• Faster walking, with bigger steps
• Improvements in activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and writing

LSVT Big® uses a large amplitude training (also known as Be BIG!) in order to elicit improved and healthy movement as a new normal for patients.

These treatments are typically administered in 16 individual sessions over the course of one month, which equals to four 60-minute sessions per week. This intensive mode of administration is consistent with theories of motor learning and skill acquisition, as well as the principle of neuroplasticity. Because of this, intensive treatments are critical in reaching the most optimal results possible.

LSVT Big® treatments don’t only stimulate the motor system – they also incorporate sensory awareness training, in order to help patients with impairments such as Parkinson’s Disease recognize when their movements are too small. This helps in convincing them their bigger movements are within normal limits, and it also makes them comfortable with their new bigger, faster, and safer movements when walking, dressing, or eating.

How do I know if I’m eligible for LSVT Big® treatments?

Eligibility for LSVT Big® treatments will be determined by one of our certified Southeast Michigan physical therapists. You will undergo a physical evaluation to test your movements and examine both your gross and fine motor skills. You will likely be asked to participate in several diagnostic tests, such as movement investigation or gait analysis. Once a diagnosis has been determined, your physical therapist will begin designing an individualized treatment plan based on your needs.

It is likely that anyone with motor skill impairments will be eligible for LSVT Big® treatments unless a physical therapist recommends otherwise. Sometimes, issues can be treated with other methods of physical therapy. Either way, your physical therapist will make sure that you are receiving the best quality care for your condition.

If you are suffering from a condition that is impairing your motor skills and you’d like to learn more about the LSVT Big® treatments offered in our Southeast Michigan physical therapy office, contact HealthQuest Physical Therapy today. We’ll make sure you get the treatment and care you need!

LSVT Loud®

LSVT Loud® is a standardized treatment protocol used to improve speech in patients with motor skill impairments, such as Parkinson’s Disease. This form of treatment is customized to the specific needs and goals of each patient, and it can be adapted or progressed in order to meet such needs. It is used to treat a vast variety of diseases, impairments, and conditions, which may fluctuate in severity from patient to patient. For more information regarding LSVT Loud® treatments and how they may benefit you or someone you love, contact HealthQuest Physical Therapy today.

What is LSVT Loud®?

LSVT Loud® is a form of treatment that may be unknown to most. LSVT stands for “Lee Silverman Voice Treatment” and has two branches that come off of it – “Big” and “Loud.” These treatments are expanded from existing software used to help with speech.

While this is a treatment that is primarily done with Parkinson’s patients, it can be used to treat numerous other conditions, as well. It is based on the principle of neuroplasticity, which refers to the ability of the nervous system to change in response to signals – essentially, the brain’s capability of learning and changing.

This method of treatment was developed in 1987 and it has been scientifically researched and studied for the past 30 years. It has received funding and support from some of the most reputable institutes, including the National Institute for Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) of the National Institutes of Health.

According to published scientific research data, LSVT Loud® treatments are reported to show significant progress in several categories for people struggling with Parkinson’s Disease, including:

• Vocal loudness
• Intonation
• Voice quality
• Articulation
• Facial expression
• Swallowing

In fact, two brain imaging studies have even documented evidence of positive changes in the brain following administration of the therapy. LSVT works in improving overall vocal loudness by stimulating the muscles of the voice box, or “larynx,” and speech mechanisms in general, through a systematic hierarchy of exercises. This is also known as the practice of “Speak LOUD!”

LSVT treatments help in improving respiratory, laryngeal, and articulatory function, in order to maximize speech intelligibility. This treatment does not train people for shouting or yelling; rather, LSVT LOUD® uses loudness training to bring the voice to an improved and healthy vocal loudness, with little to no strain.

These treatments are typically administered in 16 individual sessions over the course of one month, which equals out to four 60-minute sessions per week. This intensive mode of administration is consistent with theories of motor learning and skill acquisition, as well as the principle of neuroplasticity. Because of this, intensive treatments are critical in reaching the most optimal results possible.

LSVT Big® treatments don’t only stimulate the motor system – they also incorporate sensory awareness training in order to help patients with impairments such as Parkinson’s Disease recognize when their voice is too soft. This helps in convincing them that their louder voice is within normal limits, and it makes them comfortable with the new normal of their louder voice.

Contact HealthQuest Physical Therapy to find out if you are eligible!

Eligibility for treatments will be determined by one of our certified Southeast Michigan physical therapists. Once a diagnosis has been determined, your physical therapist will begin designing an individualized treatment plan based on your needs.

If you are suffering from Parkinson’s, contact HealthQuest Physical Therapy today. We’ll make sure you get the treatment and care you need!