Objective: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the potential efficacy of high intensity physiotherapy LSVT®BIG on motor and non-motor functions of PD patients to characterize long-term therapy effects.

Background: Physiotherapy is essential in idiopathic Parkinson´s Disease (PD) patients.

Method: PD patients were randomly (1:1) assigned to either high intensity physiotherapy LSVT®BIG for four weeks (n=18) or maintenance of best standard care physiotherapy (n=20). The primary endpoint was the efficacy of LSVT®BIG on motor symptoms detected by means of blinded MDS-UPDRS part III after 20 weeks of follow-up. Further primary outcome measures were the between group differences over time from baseline to week 12 in gait and balance tests, extensive cognitive testing and non-motor function. Secondary outcome parameters included further assessments at week 20.

Results: The primary outcome, MDS-UPDRS III motor score improved significantly from baseline to week 20 (p=0.0045) in the BIG-group, sub score analysis revealed the effects on bradykinesia (p<0.001) to be the most distinguished. MOCA, testing overall cognition, revealed a significant improvement at 20 weeks (p=0.04) in the LSVT®BIG interventional group. Frontal executive functions estimated by FAB (p=0.03) and long-term verbal memory (CVLT) (p=0.02) were also significantly improved in the LSVT®BIG-group after 20 weeks.

Conclusion: This pilot study provides evidence that physiotherapy by means of LSVT®BIG is a highly effective treatment for motor and cognitive functions in PD. The marked improvement of frontal executive function and long-term verbal memory after only 20 weeks of observation broadens the perspective of such treatment options.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/parkinson-patients-motor-and-cognitive-functions-are-improved-by-high-intensity-lsvtbig-physiotherapy-a-randomized-prospective-pilot-trial/