DOES LSVT BIG IMPROVE BALANCE CONFIDENCE AND PERCEIVED DIFFICULTY WITH WALKING IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSON DISEASE?

Terry Auditorium

Introduction. Parkinson disease (PD) affects mobility and balance increasing fall risk. Patients with PD may experience decreased balance confidence limiting activity. LSVT BIG (LSVTB) a protocol to treat patients with PD integrates concepts of neuroplasticity. This case is a first looking at the effect of physical therapy (PT) using LSVTB on balance confidence and perceived walking difficulty in a patient with PD. Case presentation. 73 year-old sedentary female diagnosed with PD in 2012 with a history of falls and fracture. Patient lives alone with aide assistance for am dressing. Patient had 16 PT sessions (4x/week) using the LSVTB protocol. Outcome measures included the Activities Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the BIG functional task assessment of the patient’s perceived level of difficulty (7 levels from “not difficult” to “unable”) performing 9 self-selected tasks. Deviation From the Expected. Previous tasks she was unable to do on admission she was able to perform with minimal to no difficulty at discharge. Discussion. Outcomes showed improvements of 3-6 levels in perceived difficulty in 8/9 tasks. Scores on the ABC balance confidence scale improved from 32% to 57.5% and perceived difficulty with walking improved 4 levels on perceived difficulty. This case suggests the intensity and task specific training of the LSVTB helped achieve the PT outcomes of improved balance confidence, and ability to walk and perform functional tasks. Conclusion. LSVT Big Protocol as a PT treatment for PD shows efficacy in re-establishing balance confidence and reducing perceived difficulty in walking and other functional tasks. Grants. No grants