Article

PURPOSE: To establish the effect of a 6-week programme of cycle ergometry
training on exercise tolerance, balance, activities of daily living (ADL) and
quality of life in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHOD:
Twenty-three subjects were recruited from the Parkinson's database of the
neurology service in a large urban teaching hospital. Quasi-experimental study of
interrupted time-series design was conducted with subjects acting as their own
control. Assessments were carried out at baseline, week 7 following the control
phase, and week 14 following the intervention phase. Intervention consisted of
30-min cycle ergometry training once weekly. Outcome measures included Six Minute
Walk Test, Physiological Cost Index, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test
(TUAG), ADL and mobility sections of the Unified Parkinson's disease Rating Scale
(UPDRS) and the Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ). RESULTS: Statistically
significant improvements were noted for the Berg Balance Scale (p = 0.003), TUAG
(p = 0.019) and ADL (p = 0.006) and mobility (p = 0.021) sections of the UPDRS. A
trend towards improvement was found for exercise tolerance. No significant effect
on quality of life was found. CONCLUSION: A 6-week programme of cycle ergometry
training did not significantly influence exercise tolerance in this sample, but
improved balance, functional abililty and PD-related disability were noted.

Langue : ANGLAIS