As a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist or student preparing for the future, finding a treatment approach that will be useful to you throughout your entire career is invaluable. LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD are precisely such treatments, offering versatility, adaptability, and effectiveness across various practice settings.
Flexibility Across Practice Settings
One of the most significant advantages of LSVT treatments is their adaptability to various practice settings:
- Outpatient clinics – hospital based and private practice
- Mobile practices
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Home health care
- School-based therapy
- Skilled nursing facilities and senior living facilities
What this means for you is that if you decide to change practice settings during your career, your LSVT certification is just as useful and can be applied to a variety of patient populations.
For patients, they can begin treatment in one practice setting and transition to another to complete their four weeks because of the broad network of LSVT Certified Clinicians.
Additionally, LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD can be effectively delivered via telehealth, expanding access to patients who may have difficulty attending all or some of the in-person sessions.
Flexibility Within Treatment Delivery
If clinicians face challenges to provide one-hour sessions, four days a week, there are solutions that uphold the treatment fidelity and outcomes that therapists desire for their patients.
- Partner with another LSVT Certified therapist or assistant of the same profession to deliver treatment sessions
- Provide some of the treatment sessions via telehealth
- LSVT BIG Certified PTs and OTs can work together to provide LSVT BIG treatment by splitting up the treatment days between their disciplines
- PT and OT can each provide 30 minutes of the one-hour session each of the 4 days per week
- LSVT LOUD Certified SLP’s can use the LSVT Coach software for half of the treatment sessions
Confidence with Patients who “Happen to Have Parkinson’s”
With the rapidly growing population of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) worldwide, it is imperative that every therapist who works with adult patients is competent and confident to care for people with PD.
For example, a physical therapist may be providing therapy to help a patient with PD to rehabilitate after knee surgery. Because PD is such a complex disease, it is likely to affect the patient’s gait, posture, balance, motor learning, proprioception, speed, amplitude of movement, and motivation to name a few. The therapist who has expertise in PD will be better equipped to help that patient recover successfully from that surgery and receive the aftercare that they need for their PD.
Applying Principles of Neuroplasticity to Multiple Populations
While the bulk of research on LSVT LOUD and LSVT BIG is in Parkinson’s, the foundation of LSVT treatments lies in well-established principles of neuroplasticity. Some of these principles, which not only address immediate symptoms but also promote long-term brain changes include:
- Intensity
- Repetition
- Specificity
- Complexity
- Saliency
Clinicians can apply these principles beyond the specific LSVT protocols, enhancing their overall therapeutic approach in all patients from pediatrics to sports to neuro populations.
Continuous Professional Growth
By incorporating LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD into their practice, clinicians can:
- Stay current with evidence-based treatments
- Expand their skill set to treat a variety neurological conditions
- Enhance their marketability in the job market
- Contribute to ongoing research and development of these treatments
LSVT BIG and LSVT LOUD offer therapists versatile, evidence-based tools that can be applied throughout their careers. These treatments provide a solid foundation for addressing a wide range of neurological conditions, adapting to a variety of practice settings, and offer the flexibility to meet diverse patient needs. By mastering these approaches, clinicians can ensure they are well-equipped to provide effective, holistic care to their patients for years to come.