About us
Physical therapy for adults living with Parkinson's disease, built around large, deliberate movement and a routine you can keep at home.
Parkinson's can make movement smaller and slower than it feels. Therapy here trains the opposite: bigger steps, bigger reaches, turns you plan ahead. Your therapist watches how you move, picks the few things that matter most in your day, and practices them with you until you can cue them yourself.
You have Parkinson's disease and want help with walking, turning or getting up from a chair
Steps have gotten smaller, or you stall at doorways or in crowds
You want a plan for home that fits your own routine
A care partner wants to know how to help without taking over
A structured one-on-one program in large, high-effort movement, with daily practice at home. Taught by therapists who completed the course through LSVT Global.
Bigger steps, a steadier pace, and a plan for the doorway, the kitchen and the crowd.
From a chair, a bed or the car, with cues you and your care partner both know.
A few exercises, written down, that you can do on your own on the days between visits.
Each visit is with one therapist, and your care partner is welcome to sit in.
What you want to keep doing, what has gotten harder and who helps you at home.
You walk, turn, stand up and reach while your therapist looks, asks and explains. We also look at how you cue yourself to take a bigger step.
Your therapist tells you what they found, in plain words, and practices the first exercises with you.
A short written routine for you and your care partner, and a plan for the next visits that we agree on together.
Each therapist is licensed in Pennsylvania. LSVT BIG is a course credential from LSVT Global, the program's certifier. It is not a board specialty.
Christa Pappas, Physical Therapist
PA Lic. 000000 · Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
Examines, treats and plans care for people with injuries and movement problems
Bettye Freeman, Physical Therapist
PA Lic. 000000 · Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
Examines, treats and plans care for people with injuries and movement problems
Sang Tian, Physical Therapist
PA Lic. 000000 · Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
Examines, treats and plans care for people with injuries and movement problems
Ara Hamed, Physical Therapist
PA Lic. 000000 · Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
Examines, treats and plans care for people with injuries and movement problems
Julian Cedillo, Physical Therapist
PA Lic. 000000 · Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
Examines, treats and plans care for people with injuries and movement problems
Monae Drake, Physical Therapist
PA Lic. 000000 · Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy
Examines, treats and plans care for people with injuries and movement problems
LSVT BIG
Course completed through LSVT Global, the certifier of the program. Held by Christa Pappas and Ara Hamed.
Each therapist is licensed in Pennsylvania. The license lines are at the foot of every page.
Physical Therapist, practice director
Started Bearing so that people with Parkinson's, stroke and MS would have one place to keep working at it. Completed the LSVT BIG course through LSVT Global, and teaches caregiver training.
Physical Therapist
Treats adults with Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis. Completed the LSVT BIG course through LSVT Global. Speaks English and Arabic.
Physical Therapist
Works on balance, strength and getting up from a chair or the floor, and builds home routines people can keep. Speaks English and Spanish.
How you move today, what you want to do, how your condition changes, what your plan allows and what you can practice at home. We go over the plan with you at regular points and say so when we think it is time to change it or to stop.
We bill many kinds of plans, and we give anyone paying without insurance a written estimate before care starts. The front desk checks your benefits before your first visit.
How fees workCall your doctor first, or 911 in an emergency, for new weakness, a fall with a head injury, a sudden change in speech or vision, or any change you are not sure belongs to Parkinson's. We do not diagnose, and we do not advise on medicines. We work alongside your physician and write to them when your plan changes.
No. LSVT BIG is one program, and it does not suit everyone. Your therapist may start with walking, balance or strength work, and may add LSVT BIG when it makes sense. Your exam and your doctor's advice decide.
Yes. Many people bring someone. Your care partner can watch, practice the cues and ask questions, and we can write the home routine for both of you.
Short daily practice of the same large movements. Your therapist shows you what to do, writes it down and checks your technique at the next visit.