Aquatic functional assessment scale (AFAS): A proposal for adaptation to Parkinson's disease (AFAS-PD)

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Aquatic Therapy

Background:

• Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts motor function.
• Aquatic therapy offers therapeutic benefits for PD patients.
• Standardized assessment tools are needed to evaluate aquatic motor skills in PD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and describe the Aquatic Functional Assessment Scale (AFAS) for individuals with Parkinson's disease, creating the AFAS-PD.
• To evaluate the feasibility and utility of the AFAS-PD in assessing aquatic motor skills.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving filmed assessments in an aquatic environment.
• Scored 32 motor skills across four phases: adaptation (A), mastering the liquid medium (D), specialized therapeutic exercises (E), and global fitness (Cd).
• Included 61 participants with PD, predominantly Hoehn & Yahr stages 2 and 3.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated notable performance in the adaptation (A) and specialized therapeutic exercise (E) phases, achieving 65% and 80.6% of total scores, respectively.
• Scores in the mastering the liquid medium (D) and global fitness (Cd) phases were 52.2% and 59%, indicating areas for improvement.
• The AFAS-PD was successfully applied to assess motor skills in people with PD.

Conclusions:

• The adapted AFAS-PD effectively identifies specific areas of competence and limitations in aquatic motor skills for individuals with Parkinson's disease.
• This assessment facilitates the personalized prescription of aquatic physiotherapy exercises.
• The AFAS-PD is a valuable tool for guiding aquatic rehabilitation strategies in PD.