Clinical Study

Effect on Gait Speed, Balance, Motor Symptom Rating, and Quality of Life in Those with Stage I Parkinson’s Disease Utilizing LSVT BIG®

Table 6

LSVT BIG interventions described.

TaskExercisesProgression

Maximal sustained exercisesExercise 1: 8 repetitions floor to ceiling
Exercise 2: 8 repetitions side to side
Finger weights, flicks

Repetitive standing movementsExercise 3: 16 repetitions forward step
Exercise 4: 16 repetitions sideways step
Exercise 5: 16 repetitions backward step
Exercise 6: 20 repetitions rock and reach forward
Exercise 7: 20 repetitions reach and twist sideways
Starting with external support chair working towards no assistive device, adding cuff weights to limbs, larger weight shifts

Functional components and hierarchy taskAll did sit/stand and then 4 other functional components selected based on chief complaintsAdding cuff weights to limbs, reducing cues and shaping, increasing reps, increasing speed, changing support surface dynamics

Hierarchy taskA sequence of functional componentsIncreasing reps, increasing speed, adding more complexity with props or functional items for the task

BIG walking/gait trainingDistance varied from 110′ to 825′, focus on longer strides with reciprocal arm swing and upright postureDecrease use of AD, longer distances, outdoor surfaces, hiking poles, metronome, treadmill training, and reciprocal arm swing