Session Information
Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Session Title: Parkinson's disease: Pathophysiology
Session Time: 12:30pm-2:00pm
Location: Exhibit Hall located in Hall B, Level 2
Objective: To examine the effects of “Voice in Motion“ group therapy on movement, speech and QOL of PD patients.
Background: Physical exercise and speech therapy are effective treatments for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The “Voice in Motion“ group activity is led by movement and speech therapists. It encourages patients to perform speech drills based on LSVT-LOUD and spontaneous speech and dance movement therapy (DMT), while at the same time emphasizing posture, balance and lively interactions within the group. Measurements of cognition, speech, voice, gait and quality of life (QOL) were assessed in clinical follow–up and for creating a homogeneous group of participants.
Methods: The parameters of volume of vowel prolongation of /aaa/ in a habitual (VVPh) and loud (VVPl) voice in spontaneous speech (VVSS), gait speed and stride length and responding to questionnaires voice handicapped index (VHI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), gait parameters and Quality of Life (PDQ-39) were compared before and after 27 weekly sessions in this pilot retrospective report.
Results: Six patients (2 males), mean age 64.5±7.8, Hoen and Yahr 2.5±0.6; disease duration 3.7±2.7 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 26.8±1.7 participated in 27 weekly sessions. A positive trend towards improvement was noted in all measurements: VVPH, VVPl and VVSS (T1 68.2±10.5dB, T2 80.8±4.9dB, P=0.068; T1 89.5±5.4dB, T2 96±6.6dB, P= 0.279; T1 60.3±4.8dB, T2 65.2±5.4dB, P=0.131, respectfully), and gait speed (T1 0.16±1.01 m/sec, T2 1.06±0.3 m/sec; P=0.73). The VHI, emotional category (T1 7±8.3, T2 4.2±.2, P= 0.197) PDQ-39, stigma parameter (T1 3.2±2.7, T2 2.7±2.3, P= 1.000) Patients reported: “The group gave me self-confidence to discuss the disease with family and friends. No falls and adverse events were reported.”
Conclusions: Therapy that combines speech and movement is apparently safe and feasible. Initial results suggest that integrating voice and dance movement therapy that focuses on expanding the use of bodily expression and social communication can maintain and improve speech, movements and communication abilities and well-being of PD patients.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
R. Peled, D. Shpunt, Y. Manor, M. Brozgol, A. Ezra, N. Hezi, R. Hen Simon, J.M. Hausdorff, T. Gurevich. Multidisciplinary group program integrating voice and dance movement therapy for Parkinson’s disease patients: Preliminary experience [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/multidisciplinary-group-program-integrating-voice-and-dance-movement-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease-patients-preliminary-experience/. Accessed May 21, 2025.« Back to 2016 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/multidisciplinary-group-program-integrating-voice-and-dance-movement-therapy-for-parkinsons-disease-patients-preliminary-experience/