Effect of a Physical Therapy Program Based on Balance and Gait in Patients with Parkinson

Abstract

Background: Parkinson is a degenerative disorder in basal ganglia in brain. This disease is an increasing and chronic one, and mostly affects the old people. Physical therapy is one of the ways to help these people to improve their health. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a physical therapy program that was designed based on balance and gait in patients with Parkinson. Methods: 24 patients with parkinson disease were participated voluntarily in this study. Subjects were randomized to the experimental (n = 12) or control group (n = 12). The intensity of disease in studied patients was moderate. Both groups used medicines with the same doses. Experiment group had passed a physical therapy program (10 weeks and 4 sessions in each week. Each session prolonged 1 hour) with emphasis on the tensional and supple exercises, while the control group did not passed any exercise program during this time. To assess the balance and gait, we used the berg balance scale (BBS), tinetii balance scale (tbs) and gait and balance scale (GABS). The balance and gait degrees were measured before and after the physical therapy period and the raw data were analyzed by student t-test and paired t-test. Findings: The gait and balance scores in experimental group improved significantly after the intervention (P < 0.000). The score of balance was decreased significantly in control group in the end of the study (P < 0.008). The score of gait had no significant change in control group (P = 0.820). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the stretching and sapling exercises have significant effect on the balance and gait in Parkinson disease.

Keywords

• Parkinson disease
• Physical therapy
• Postural balance
• Gait