Excel PT: LSVT-BIG

THE NEWSLETTER ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY Health Tips Newsletter

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Most Americans do not move enough. The good news is that regular physical activity is one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk for chronic disease and to improve your quality of life. Physical Activity is proven to help: 1. Improve your memory and brain function (all age groups). 2. Protect against many chronic diseases. 3. Aid in weight management. 4. Lower blood pressure and improve heart health. 5. Improve your quality of sleep. 6. Reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. 7. Combat cancer-related fatigue. 8. Improve joint pain and stiffness. 9. Maintain muscle strength and balance. 10. Increase life span. Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.

Physical therapists treat people of all ages and abilities and empower you to take an active part in your care. After an evaluation, your physical therapist will create a treatment plan for your specific needs and goals.

Choose more movement. Choose better health. Choose physical therapy.

Contact Excel Physical Therapy today to get started!

Source: www.choosept.com/resources/detail/top-10-benefits-of-physical-activity

INSIDE : • Movement Is Medicine

• This Patient Got His Life Back, You Can Too! • Complimentary Screening

• What The Vaccine Means For Hands-On Care

866-883-9235 www.excelphysicaltherapy.com [email protected]

HEALTH AND CARING FOR YOUR BODY Health Tips Newsletter

MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE HOW THE LSVT-BIG PROGRAM HELPS TREAT PARKINSON’S DISEASE

INSIDE :

• What The Vaccine Means For Hands-On Care • Complimentary Screening

• Exercise Of The Month • This Patient Got His Life Back, You Can Too!

the patient is capable of. Then, specific exercises are given to increase their amplitude of movement with the goal of improving their overall gait pattern and balance to reduce their risk for falls. The accelerated program is built to slow the disease progression by protecting dopamine neurons, restore connections in the brain, and specifically train the patient’s individual deficits. The LSVT-BIG program is a specific exercise program consisting of 16 one-hour sessions for four consecutive days per week for four weeks. Throughout the four weeks, patients are completing daily homework and carryover learned exercises for 30 days straight. This is followed by coaching of five everyday tasks that the patient is having difficulty completing, such as sit to stand transfers or pulling keys out of pocket, all under close supervision of the licensed physical therapist. Our team of certified experts are here to help slow the progression of the disease and enhance quality of life. For more information about the LSVT-BIG program at Excel Physical Therapy, please see our location list to find a certified LSVT-BIG clinician near you.

Parkinson’s disease is a “progressive disease of the nervous systems marked by tremor, muscle rigidi ty and slow, imprecise movement. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine.” It commonly affects 4-6 million

Katie Kelly, PT, DPT

people worldwide. It is most prevalent in Caucasian and Hispanic men over the age of 60, with a prevalence of twice as many men affected compared to women. It is diagnosed by motor symptoms including bradykinesia (slow movement), rigidity, tremor, as well as a positive response to dopamine replacement therapy. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment- BIG (LSVT-BIG) is one part of a dual-treatment program for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. At Excel Physical Therapy, LSVT-BIG is taught by a certified physical therapist. LSVT-BIG is defined as an “intensive amplitude- based exercise program for the limb motor system and re-education of the sensorimotor system.” In other words, as the name implies, the exercises are comprised of big, exaggerated movements. A common presentation of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s is bradykinesia or small amplitude movements. This can include decreased arm swing or short step length (shuffling) while walking. The LSVT-BIG program begins by addressing the person’s maximum amplitude of movement, meaning “the largest range of motion with the highest effort and the best biomechanics” that

By Katie Kelly, PT, DPT, Staff Physical Therapist at Excel Physical Therapy - Blue Bell

More information can also be found at: www.excelphysicaltherapy.com/ services/lsvt-big

GET YOUR LIFE BACK WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY NO PRESCRIPTION NEEDED! - CALL 866-88-EXCEL TODAY!

What The Vaccine Means For Hands-On Care A Message from Our CEO, Kristin Mullen

2020 was ful l of learning experiences with al l new processes, protocols and standards. As the world shifted to remote sett ings, so did l i fe for our physical therapists, who like you, are balancing homeschooling and quarantine restrictions while working. In addition, our team learned how to perform their hands-on skills virtually. This is counterintuitive to the distinctiveness of physical therapy, but our team knew treatment could not come to a halt. Our therapists learned to deliver top-notch, quality care remotely for our patients. While this service has proven its worth during the pandemic, we are eager to return to a normal clinic environment safely. As we continue to remain vigilant in our screenings, cleaning and social distancing protocols, many of our team members have also chosen to be vaccinated as an additional safety measure.

With that, I am pleased to share that the majority of our team is vaccinated. Vaccination is critical to protecting our patients and staff and we take that very seriously. There are patients, like you, who need our hands-on care now. Our value as providers of physical therapy lies in our ability to connect with patients, and having vaccinated therapists providing this additional safety measure of care for our patients fosters this connection. We will continue to do our part in providing safe, hands-on care so our patients can resume pursuing the activities they love, while being pain-free. Should you want to learn more about COVID-19 vaccination options and safety, simply give us a call.

In Good Heal th, Kristin Mullen, CEO, Excel Physical Therapy

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY

excelphysicaltherapy.com

866-88-EXCEL

Specialties Offered

This Patient Got His Life Back, You Can Too!

• Manual Therapy – ART & Graston Techniques • McKenzie Method • Pelvic Health • Pre- & Post-Surgical Rehab • TMD (Temperalmandibular Dysfunction)

• Balance & Vestibular Rehab • Concussion Rehab Program • Functional Movement Screens (FMS) • LSVT Big Therapy • Lymphedema Treatment

Common Conditions We Treat

Dizziness & Concussions

“I started physical therapy after a fall. I have Parkinson’s disease, which affects my balance and movement, so falls are common. My evaluation and program were not only spot on for my Parkinson’s, but also for my other issues (back, neck, shoulder and knee pain). In the beginning, I couldn’t turn my head without losing my balance, and my neck was so stiff that to look to the side required moving at the waist. Now my neck is as free in all directions as it’s been in years. I can walk forward, sideways and even backwards without losing my balance. My visits were always concise, challenging and helpful. I’m still 70 years old with Parkinson’s, but I have new tools to help with making my daily life more enjoyable, all thanks to the staff at Excel Physical Therapy in Royersford. My thanks to all.” - G.E. “I have new tools to help with making my daily life more enjoyable, all thanks to the staff at Excel PT...” NO PRESCRIPTION NECESSARY With Direct Access, you are now able to receive physical therapy without a prescription from your physician, saving you precious time that may be crucial to your recovery. We have Direct Access licensed physical therapists available to help you start treatment immediately. To find out if your insurance participates in Direct Access, please call us at 866-883-9235.

Neck Pain

Shoulder Pain

Back Pain

Elbow & Arm Pain Hand & Wrist Pain

Hip Pain

Knee Pain/ Arthritis

Please visit www.excelphysicaltherapy.com/services for more information

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