Can Water Exercise Improve Motor Function in Parkinson's Disease More Than Land Exercise? A Systematic Review and...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Physical Therapy
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Exercise is beneficial for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients.
• Conflicting findings exist regarding land-based vs. water-based exercise efficacy in PD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate and compare the effects of land-based and water-based exercises on motor performance in people with PD.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
• Searched Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.
• Included 8 English articles meeting inclusion criteria.

Main Results:

• A significant difference in motor performance was found between land- and water-based exercise groups.
• Water-based exercises demonstrated superior outcomes (MD = -0.392, CI 95%: -0.135 to -0.649).

Conclusions:

• Water-based exercises may yield greater improvements in motor performance for individuals with PD.
• Aquatic therapy can be a valuable addition to conventional exercise programs for enhancing motor function in PD patients.