Assessment of Parkinson disease patients before and after a physical activity program

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of a tailored physical activity program on specific parameters in Parkinson Disease (PD) patients. METHOD: PD patients were assessed before and after six months of a tailored physical activity program. Twenty PD patients (13 M, 7 F), mean age 55 years. Aerobic, resistance and stretching exercises. No special apparatus or machine was used at any stage of the program. There was no interference with the pharmacologic treatment, which remained at the discretion of the physician in charge. Fatigue, disability, joint amplitude, cardiorespiratory parameters and body fat composition were assessed. Comparisons were performed using the Student’s t-test at baseline and after six months. RESULTS: There was a significant (p0.001) and positive effect of this physical activity program in all assessed parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Despite this chronic, disabling and progressive neurological disease, PD patients showed significant improvement in all assessed parameters after participating in a specific and tailored physical activity program.