Movers and Shakers Program for Parkinson’s Patients
The Movers and Shakers program has been developed to allow Parkinson’s patients to continue an active lifestyle after they have completed therapy. Exercise has been proven to have a neuroprotective effect in decreasing the progression and allowing for smooth, fluid movements to increase activity. Patients are able to continue making strides with their health through a one hour personal session. We provide a motivational, social and interactive environment to promote improvement in health and quality of life.Focuses include:
- Improvement in gait with faster pattern and bigger steps
- Improvement in balance to decrease falls
- Increasing postural stability
- Decreasing stiffness and tightness particularly in the back
- Improving overall strength
Our staff has been trained in the NeuroFit Exercise4BrainChange program for Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery (PWR!) The goal is to slow motor deterioration through neurorestoration, while optimizing a person’s learning and function.
The PWR! Moves are based on these four components and are blended with functional tasks.
- PWR STEP—Improve strength, weight shift, increase speed, step length and turns
- PWR WALK—Normalize gait and reduce fall risk by increasing step length
- PWR TURN—Reduce falls and improve balance reactions
- PWR VOICE—Greater activation, attention, effort and cognitive challenge
Our WWSPT staff has also been certified in the LSVT® BIG exercise treatment protocol which was developed specifically to address the unique movement impairments for people with Parkinson disease is based on the principle that the brain can learn and change (neuroplasticity). It has been formulated from an existing program to help with speech for people with PD called the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT). The protocol is both intensive and complex, with many repetitions of core movements that are used in daily living. This type of practice is necessary to optimize learning and carryover of your better movement into everyday life!
- Forward Step and Reach—Start BIG, Step Forward BIG, End BIG
- Backward Step and Reach—Start BIG, Step Back & Reach Back BIG, End BIG
- Forward Rock and Reach—Rock Forward & Reach BIG, Rock Back & Reach BIG
- Sideways Step and Reach—Start BIG, Step Sideways BIG, End BIG
Timing is key– – the earlier one begins a program, the better
The earlier exercise is started, the sooner the negatives changes of Parkinson’s can be slowed. Exercise will allow those with Parkinson’s to have an awareness and thoughtfulness of movement.
Stop the negative changes:
- High-intensity training
- Amplitude is a way of increasing the way one moves and speaks.
- Calibration is training the individual to know that when their therapist instructs them to move a certain way, that way is considered normal movement when compared to the movement of someone with Parkinson’s Disease.
Signals are not only sent from the Brain to the Body, but also from the Body to the Brain. Because of this, it is perceived that the movement one is making is normal when in fact it is small.
Resources
For more information visit:www.nfnw.org
