Functional outcomes of an integrated Parkinson's Disease Wellbeing Program

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Growing evidence supports exercise for Parkinson's disease (PD) symptom management.
• Exercise interventions are crucial for addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sustained physical and psychosocial benefits of a 5-week PD-specific program.
• To investigate the relationship between patient characteristics, exercise adherence, falls, and physical/psychosocial outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Prospective observational study involving 135 mild-to-moderate PD patients.
• A 5-week PD-specific education and exercise program was implemented.
• Gait, mobility, and psychosocial measures were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 months.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in physical measures (e.g., 2-minute walk, Sit To Stands, Timed Up and Go, gait velocity, Berg Balance Scale) were observed at 6 weeks and sustained at 12 months.
• Psychosocial measures (quality of life, depression, anxiety, fatigue) showed initial improvement but were not sustained at 12 months.
• Exercise adherence at 12 months correlated with reduced falls, improved balance, and better psychosocial parameters.

Conclusions:

• A 5-week PD education and exercise program yielded significant 12-month physical benefits.
• Patients experiencing falls post-treatment were less likely to be exercising at the 12-month follow-up.
• Maintaining exercise is vital for long-term physical function and fall prevention in Parkinson's disease.