Aquatic obstacle training improves freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease patients: a randomized controlled trial. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Zhizhong; Yin, Miaomiao; Cui, Liling; Zhang, Ying; Hou, Weijia; Li, Yaqing; Zhao, Hua
• Is Part Of: Clinical rehabilitation. Volume 32:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 36
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Parkinson's disease -- randomized controlled trial -- aquatic therapy -- freezing of gait; Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.1177/0269215517715763
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-2155

Abstract

Objective: 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.