Interview with Valerie Carter PT, DPT, NCS

Valerie Carter showed us research video material about Parkinson’s Patient

by LSVT^® Global “Rehabilitative Therapy for People with Parkinson’s”

She also introduced us to Parkinson Wellness Recovery (PWR!) based in Tucson, AZ.

“Exercise is immediately available and can be safely combined with other treatments for potentially additive effects! Several clinical trials in people with PD have shown that exercise plus meds benefits function more than medications alone!”

Exercising on the treadmill is a very important part of

physical therapy for Parkinson’s Disease patients.

They wear a special harness that protects them from falling.

Valerie stressed the importance of daily training to create change in the brain and to increase the production of dopamine. Her patients are encouraged to “exercise with BIG movements”. Patients for example walk in small steps, but they are not aware of it. They believe they walk in big steps. The area in the brain that produces dopamine does not do its job and for the patient it feels normal to walk with small steps. It actually takes a patients thinking they are running or really over exaggerating their movements, for them to actually just walk normal.

Valerie and her team are teaching Parkinson’s patients how to move again. Researches show that the patients that are doing their exercises every day are able to live with reduced symptoms. One woman learned how to throw a scarf. By throwing the scarf she had to make “big” movements. With simple activities the patients receive help. It teaches the patient’s brain to put more effort in everything they are doing. Dopamine helps them to be “big” and have a lot of strenght and movements.

Valerie also showed us a video about a man who walked very poorly, in very small steps. After only 14 exercise sessions, his way of walking improved so much. He worked at the treadmill and made the big movements. This man had Parkinson’s Disease for 16 years. Before therapy with Valerie, he was about to start using a wheel chair. 

When electric sensors are placed on Parkinson’s patients, they are able to produce music with their movements. The bigger the movements, the louder the music will be. This is a project of the Bio-Mechanical Experts at ASU.

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Valerie Carter Associate Clinical Professor NAU and Physical Therapist

Flagstaff Arizona

Valerie Carter PT, DPT, NCS

Valerie graduated from Northern Arizona University with her Bachelors in Physical Therapy in 1989 and with her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2002. She is certified by the APTA as a Neuro Specialist and has been teaching Neuroscience / Neuro Rehabilitation Techniques, Aquatics and Pediatrics at NAU in the Department of Physical therapy since 2000. Valerie teaches nationally about evidence based neuroplastic rehabilitation concepts for patients with hemiparesis and completes clinical research with patients who have neurological conditions. She has worked and taught in many different physical therapy settings such as: in-patient and out patient rehabilitation, acute care, skilled nursing, out-patient orthopedic, home health care, pediatric and aquatic rehabilitation. She also works with Parkinson’s Disease patients.


http://www.carterrehab.com/joenval.cfm