According to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, approximately one million people suffer from Parkinson’s disease in the United States, with nearly 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year. This brain disorder inhibits a person’s ability to regulate their movements, body and emotions and while the disease is not fatal, complications from Parkinson’s can lead to death. Therapist Sarah Oresko is certified to administer a specialized approach to treat Parkinson’s, known as the Lee Silverman Voice Technique (LSVT) BIG.

“Patients with Parkinson’s disease experience bradykinesia, or slow movements, because their brain does not properly interpret their movements, leading them to feel as if they are moving normally,” said Sarah Oresko, licensed physical therapist at St. Mary Medical Center’s Outpatient Rehabilitation. “Traditional treatments for the disease have focused on a cautious approach, encouraging small movements without much emphasis on brain function. LSVT BIG focuses on retraining the brain to recognize movement size so the patient can move more naturally.”

Oresko explained that LSVT BIG uses large movements, such as taking a big step while swinging the arms wide, to retrain the brain. “We ask our patients to move with exaggerated motions, taking big strides while walking,” she said. Patients complete 10 repetitions of seven rotational exercises, two performed while sitting and the rest while standing. “These exercises allow the patient to move in all directions to increase their full range of motion and through repetition, recalibrate muscle function,” she continued.

For more information on LSVT BIG technique or additional Outpatient Rehabilitation services at St. Mary Medical Center, visit comhs.org/stmary or call 219-947-6580.