Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Program

Patients are evaluated by a physical, occupational, and speech therapist based on need. An individualized treatment plan, including but not limited to functional mobility training, functional Activities of Daily Living (ADL) training, balance training, cognitive retraining, vocal retraining, breath support training, visual retraining, and caregiver training will be implemented.

Helen Hayes Hospital offers an innovative, disease-specific treatment program for patients with PD. The program incorporates LSVT BIG^TM and LSVT LOUD^TM, which are research-based therapy protocols that address two of the main symptoms associated with PD: functional mobility and speech output. These treatments are provided by the Hospital’s LSVT® certified occupational, physical, and speech therapists. They also incorporate neuroplasticity-principled programming (Parkinson Wellness Recovery^TM), driven by Parkinson Exercise Experts. These experts have been trained to implement treatment plans or community programming that adhere to research-based Exercise4BrainChange® techniques, which are shown to optimize learning, brain health, and function.

LSVT BIG addresses movement impairments by using increased amplitude limb and body movement with intensive and high effort training, along with sensory calibration. The patient mimics the therapist during intensive, complex and repetitive core movements that are used in daily living. LSVT BIG has been documented to be effective in improving independence with activities of daily living, and increasing safety, walking, balance, and enhancing quality of life.

LSVT LOUD is an effective speech treatment that improves vocal loudness, intonation, and voice quality. The therapy is also effective in managing disordered articulation, diminished facial expression and impaired swallowing. It uses enhancement of sound and articulation to bring the voice to an improved, healthy vocal loudness with no strain.

Complementing these treatments is Parkinson Wellness Recovery^TM (PWR!), a program where Parkinson’s patients receive research-based exercise programming that is neuroplasticity-principled. Such programming holds the promise of slowing disease progression, restoring motor function, and increasing longevity and quality of life.

The LSVT intensive protocol calls for four consecutive days of treatment, consisting of 60-minute sessions, for four weeks. The protocol is completed once, with burst or tune-up sessions of a shorter length every six to twelve months, depending on the patient’s functional status.

These treatments can improve the patient’s functional status and decrease caregiver burden. Although techniques are specific to Parkinson’s Disease deficits, they can also be helpful for patients with other neurological disorders.

While medications are beneficial in addressing PD symptoms, therapeutic modalities such as LSVT BIG^TM, LSVT LOUD^TM, Parkinson Wellness Recovery^TM, and other amplitude based exercises can help in keeping patients moving and functioning at their highest level.

Helen Hayes Hospital sponsors a Parkinson’s Disease Support Group, which meets the 3rd Friday of each month from 2:00pm-3:00pm.