Article

Our aim was to evaluate the effect of aquatic obstacle training on
balance parameters in comparison with a traditional aquatic therapy in patients
with Parkinson's disease. DESIGN: A randomized single-blind controlled trial.
SETTING: Outpatients in the rehabilitation department. SUBJECTS: A total of 46
patients with Parkinson's disease in Hoehn-Yahr stage 2-3. INTERVENTIONS:
Participants were randomly assigned to (1) aquatic therapy or (2) obstacle
aquatic therapy. All participants undertook aquatic therapy for 30 minutes, five
times per week for six weeks. MAIN MEASURES: The Freezing of Gait Questionnaire,
Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go test and Berg Balance Scale were assessed
at baseline, posttreatment and at six-month follow-up. RESULTS: Both groups of
patients had improved primary outcomes after the training program. A
between-group comparison of the changes revealed that obstacle aquatic therapy
was significantly higher for the Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (after treatment:
8.7 +/- 3.3 vs 6.2 +/- 2.1, P = 0.004; posttest: 7.7 +/- 3.1 vs 5.3 +/- 2.0, P =
0.003) and Timed Up and Go test (after treatment: 17.1 +/- 2.9 vs 13.8 +/- 1.9, P
< 0.001; posttest: 16.3 +/- 2.8 vs 12.9 +/- 1.4, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Obstacle
aquatic therapy in this protocol seems to be more effective than traditional
protocols for gait and balance in patients with Parkinson's disease, and the
effect lasts for six months.

Langue : ANGLAIS