A Multitask Fall Prevention Program for People with Parkinson's Disease: Feasibility and Effects on Static and...

BackgroundPostural instability contributes to falls and reduced mobility in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). The Nijmegen Falls Prevention Program (NFPP) has improved balance and reduced falls in other populations, but has not been evaluated in PD.ObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of the NFPP in people with PD and explore its effects on static and dynamic postural control.MethodsFifteen participants with PD completed 10 NFPP sessions delivered twice weekly over 5 weeks. Feasibility was assessed through adherence and a Likert-scale questionnaire. Static balance, anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments (APAs and CPAs), and center of pressure (COP) displacement were evaluated before and after the intervention. Nine matched healthy participants provided normative reference data.ResultsNFPP was feasible, with 100% adherence and no adverse events. Strongly agree responses were 67% for satisfaction and 73% for load appropriateness. Sway Area decreased during the EOFO (p = .02, r = 0.59) and ECFO (p< .01, d = 0.84) conditions. CPA activity decreased in the tibialis anterior (UU; p = .01, r = 0.58), rectus femoris (UU; p = .03, d = 0.61), and biceps femoris (PU; p = .03, d = 0.60). Backward COP displacement decreased in the PS (p = .01, d = 0.74), US (p = .01, d = 0.73), and UU (p = .01, d = 0.70) conditions.ConclusionsNFPP was feasible for people with PD and produced preliminary changes in static and dynamic biomechanical measures consistent with improved postural control. These findings support larger controlled studies of NFPP in people with PDTrial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05771818).