Aquatic Exercise Therapy for People with Parkinson’s disease: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Publication date: Available online 12 January 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Louise M. Carroll, Daniele Volpe, Meg E. Morris, Jean Saunders, Amanda M. Clifford
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise therapy on gait variability and disability compared to usual care for people with Parkinson's disease (PD).DesignSingle-blind randomized control trial (RCT).SettingA community based hydrotherapy pool in Ireland.ParticipantsTwenty one individuals with PD (Hoehn-Yahr Stages I-III).InterventionsParticipants were randomly assigned to either an aquatic exercise therapy group (45 minutes, twice a week for 6 weeks) or a control group that received usual care.Main Outcome Measure(s)The primary outcome measure was gait variability as measured using a Coda CX1 motion capture system. Secondary outcomes were quality of life measured on the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39, freezing of gait and motor disability quantified by the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS III). Feasibility was evaluated by measuring safety, adverse events and participant satisfaction.ResultsPeople in the aquatic therapy group and control group showed similar small improvements in gait variability. The aquatic therapy group showed greater improvements in disability than the control group (P<0.01). No differences between groups or over time were identified for freezing of gait or quality of life. Aquatic therapy sessions were safe and enjoyable with no adverse events.ConclusionsAquatic therapy appears feasible and safe for some people in the early stages of Parkinson's disease.



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