LSVT BIG® and long-term retention of functional gains in individuals with Parkinson's disease

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effects of LSVT BIG® on the function of individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD).

Eighteen participants gave informed consent, and met the inclusion criteria. Time since diagnosis of PD ranged from .5 to 16 years (mean 4.5 years), time since discharge from 3-23 months (mean 6.5 months). Hoehn and Yahr scores were from 2 to 4. Subjects were posttested by blinded evaluators on the same 8 measures used at evaluation and discharge, the 6 Minute Walk (6WMT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), TUG-manual, TUG-cognitive, 10 Meter Walk(10MWT), 30 Second Sit to Stand (30 CST), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA). Test means were compared from evaluation to discharge, discharge to posttesting, and evaluation to posttest using repeated measures ANOVA with a Tukey correction, p value < .05.

The time between discharge and posttesting was not a confounding variable. Significant improvement in all measures were displayed from evaluation to discharge. No significant change was found from discharge to posttesting except for 6MWT. Significant improvements were noted when comparing initial evaluation to posttesting: TUG p = .001; TUG-manual p = .003; TUG-cognitive p = .001; 10MWT p < .001; BBS p < .001; and FGA p < .001.

Subjects were able to maintain significant gains noted at discharge from the program in measures of functional mobility and balance. The exception was endurance, as assessed by the 6MWT and the 30 CST. This suggests that the LSVT BIG® protocol has the potential for long term improvement in functional mobility in individuals with PD.