Parkinson?s Program Utilizing LSVT BIG and Loud

Parkinson?s is defined as a progressive disease. Although each person with the disease will experience different symptoms, one of the defining features is decreased movement and body control. Parkinson?s affects a person?s mobility and ability to communicate in many different ways, but all people diagnosed with this disease suffer from some sort of movement disorder whether it be tremors, slow movement, rigidity, or instability when standing.

Due to the overwhelming community response to the initiation of a Parkinson?s Program, Allied Services Integrated Health System has actively pursued certification of our therapists in a research-based Parkinson?s treatment technique, LSVT BIG and LOUD.? We recently held a LSVT BIG certification course on campus. Four instructors trained 60 physical therapists, physical therapy aides, and occupational therapists who will practice at Allied Rehab and Allied Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scranton and Heinz Rehab in Wilkes Barre, as well as the Home Health Division and in outpatient clinics throughout the region. Along with traditional therapy interventions, our comprehensive treatment for patients with Parkinson?s Disease (PD) will incorporate LSVT BIG and LOUD techniques.

The LSVT BIG and LOUD is a highly specialized exercise program designed specifically for patients with Parkinson?s Disease and other movement disorders. The program teaches patients to move BIG and speak LOUD based on the principles of amplitude, sensory calibration, and self awareness of motor patterns (movement) without cognitive overload.? Success of the program translates into new motor plans that carry over into everyday activities, thus positively impacting quality of life.

Types of Patients

Although higher functioning patients tend to maximize the benefits, LSVT BIG and LOUD programs are designed for all patients with PD in all stages of the disease process.? The focuses of BIG movement and LOUD voice can be adjusted to meet the needs of the patient cognitive deficits.? As with all therapeutic interventions, severe cognitive and physical deficits will impact outcomes.

LSVT BIG and LOUD protocol is intense and requires the ability to participate 4 times a week for 4 weeks. However, the exercise concepts of BIG and LOUD can be incorporated into therapy programs modified to address the patient?s functional status and endurance.

Any patient can be referred to outpatient therapy for a comprehensive evaluation for physical, occupational, and speech therapy and recommendations will be made whether LSVT BIG and/or LOUD services are appropriate.

Following Discharge

Following discharge from an inpatient stay, the patient will continue with the LSVT BIG and LOUD program at one of our outpatient clinics.? Following discharge from our outpatient clinic, the patient is encouraged to join our established Parkinson?s-specific exercise class run by an exercise physiologist.? We also recommend a 3-6 month follow-up appointment to sustain motivation and adherence to the patient-specific home exercise program.

Continuum of Care

To provide the best care possible for patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Allied Services provides a comprehensive, seamless continuum of rehabilitative care. Our outpatient programs are primarily for people living safely at home who have completed or did not require a post-acute inpatient stay, but require additional rehabilitative therapy to alleviate physical limitation or pain.

If a patient suffering from a Parkinson’s disease requires intensive, around-the-clock nursing and/or therapy services, but cannot tolerate or does not require the intensity of therapy delivered during an inpatient rehab hospital stay, or their insurance does not cover inpatient rehabilitation, they would be an appropriate candidate for a transitional or long-term stay at our skilled nursing facility, which also has has LSVT certified therapists on staff.

Conversely, if the patient requires 24-hour care and can tolerate the intensity of a stay at one of our rehabilitation hospitals, they would be best suited for a stay at one of our inpatient facilities for our inpatient neurological rehabilitation program.

Patient Outcomes

At Allied Services, patient outcome metrics such as average number of visits, pain reduction, reduced function limitation, and likelyhood of recommending Allied Services to others, are among the best in the United States:

• 98% of our outpatient population reported that their overall rating of care received was either good or very good.
• 97% of our outpatient population reported that they would recommend out services to others.
• 93% of our outpatient population reported that they either had no pain or a decrease in their pain during their treatment.

Our rehabilitation facilities regularly outperform other rehabilitation providers nationwide. According to statistics compiled by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation, Allied Services ranks in the top 4% of 892 rehabilitation centers in the United States.

Referrals & Insurance

Because Parkinson’s is a progressive disease, these patients should be evaluated and treated at the time of diagnosis, but can still benefit from therapy at any stage of the disease process. However, the sooner a referral is made the better. Patients need a prescription from their doctor in order to enroll in the women’s health program at Allied Rehab. Insurance coverage for this program is provided by most health insurance policies. For specific questions on how to obtain a referral or health insurance coverage, please call (570) 826-3900 (Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding areas) or (570) 348-1360 (Scranton and the surrounding areas).