Randall Curtis is in a community of Parkinson Disease (PD) patients who have been through the LSVT BIG program, and have been meeting for a graduate class in Belfast over the last year and half. Mr. Curtis estimates about 30 have been through the class, and many continue to meet. “It is twice a month and doing the class is really good for reinforcing the BIG exercises. We add new moves we don’t do at home. These are extensions of the program. The occupational therapy part is always good, working on core and some pretty interesting things. They added music to try to get us to work with rhythm. It’s a really great workout.” He notes that his daughter, Amanda Curtis, PT, is an instructor, along with Patrice Fox, OT. “They give up their lunch hour for the sessions,” says the proud father and student.
The instructors and I spoke about the program. Amanda Curtis reports that the class takes place at the Waldo County Hospital rehab facility on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month, and lasts about an hour. They tend to split into two groups and break the session into 15-minute segments. They may run through LSVT, then do circuit training on balance, fine motor skills, core strengthening, and boxing. “We’re pretty proud of it up here, because patients have been able to maintain what they have learned in BIG.”
She reports that the high intensity exercise takes a lot of effort, especially given the number repetitions. “We really push people, but it pays off.” In fact, she and Patrice Fox have recently traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota to become PWR! (Power) certified and to expand their PD workout repertoire. “I love this population, obviously, and I have a special place in my heart because of my father. They tell me it is really hard but they want to keep coming back because it works. And they do, they come early and stay late. For me there is something really rewarding about that.”
Patrice Fox noted, “One thing I really love about the group, aside from the physical gains they are making, is that this has become more of a support system. When people exercise together it gets them talking about what they are doing, about medications, and about other issues that they have in common. I think it makes them realize they are not alone on this journey, and there are other people here to support them.” She finds that the camaraderie is important and that “they encourage one another without realizing it. It’s wonderful to watch it happen.” It goes the other way too. She feels supported by the all the positive feedback, and was very touched when a man in the class had a revelation of sorts with her when he realized it was not just him. “It opened up his world to see that there are others with PD.”
