Article

OBJECTIVE: To develop a highly challenging and progressive group balance training
regime specific to Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms and to investigate its
feasibility in older adults with mild to moderate PD. DESIGN: Intervention study,
before-after trial with a development and feasibility design. SETTING: University
hospital setting. PARTICIPANTS: Feasibility was evaluated in older adults (N=5;
mean age, 72y; age range, 69-80y) with mild to moderate idiopathic PD.
INTERVENTION: A balance training regime emphasizing specific and highly
challenging exercises, performed 3 times per week for 12 weeks, was developed
through discussion and workshops by a group of researchers and physiotherapists.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Indicators of feasibility included attendance rate, safety
(adverse events, physical function, and pain), participants' perceptions of the
intervention (level of difficulty of the exercises, motivation level, and
appreciation), and efficacy of the intervention (balance performance assessed
with the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test [Mini-BESTest]). RESULTS: The
incidence rate was high (93%) for attendance and low (1.2%) for adverse events.
Ratings by the participants indicated progression throughout the training period.
All participants considered the training motivational and stated that they would
recommend it to others. The efficacy of the intervention measured with the
Mini-BESTest showed that 4 out of 5 participants improved their balance
performance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the overall feasibility of this
novel balance program in older adults with mild to moderate PD. However, to
further evaluate the efficacy of the program, a larger randomized controlled
trial is required.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS