Effects of Home Exercise on Physical Function and Activity in Home Care Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of guidance in home exercise on physical function and the amount of activity in home care patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). [Subjects and Methods] A 2-month home exercise intervention consisting of self-administered exercise by patients (self-exercise) and home visit exercise therapy guided by a physical therapist (home visit exercise) was conducted in 10 home care patients with PD to compare changes in physical function, activities of daily living, and postural status between before and after the intervention. [Results] A decreased number of chief complaints and alleviation of fear of falling were observed after the intervention. In terms of physical function, a significant increase in flexibility and muscle strength were observed, although no significant changes were found in activities of daily living, gait, and balance. Although there was no significant change in the total amount of daily physical activity, the analysis of daily posture changes revealed a significant reduction in the percentage of time spent lying down and a significant increase in the percentage of time spent sitting after the intervention. [Conclusion] Guidance in home exercise in home care patients with PD can be effective in making self-exercise a habit, improving range of motion and muscle strength, and reducing the time spent in a supine position.

Quality of life in people with Parkinson’s disease: the relevance of social relationships and communication

“…Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neuromuscular disorder found most commonly among older adults; however, its progression is relatively slow 1 ) . Thus, it is important to help maintain functional abilities related to independent living through rehabilitation 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) . Quality of life (QOL) also plays an important role in independent living.…”

Facioscapulohumeral distrophy and physiotherapy: a literary review

“…The first study 15 ) was a RCT, attempting to verify the aerobic training (AET) effect and the cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) effect on chronic fatigue of FSHD patients which had already been theoretically proposed in the FACTS-2 protocol 18 ) . The authors collected 57 patients affected by FSHD from different Dutch study centres, and randomly divided them into three groups: an AET group, a CBT group, and a group which continued with traditional treatments.…”

“…The third study considered 17 ) was a trial reported only in academic databases concerning a domestic rehabilitation treatment for FSHD patients. Domestic physiotherapy has yielded positive results in many neurological 18 , 19 ) and orthopaedic 20 ) pathologies. In the study 17 ) , 16 patients performed exercise for three weeks (to be cyclically repeated), but the exercises prescribed weren’t described.…”

Strategies to encourage physical activity in patients with Parkinson's disease: improving quality of life

“…24,57,66,94 This suggests that giving patients the tools to success starts with early implementation of exercise programs. Early referral to physical or occupational therapy may play a role in improving exercise knowledge, decreasing fear of falling with exercise, and setting up patients with home programs 95 that may limit monetary or transportation barriers. The literature in itself has not documented the translation of physical therapy to home exercise, but guidance in exercise therapy and self-exercise will attempt to solve these problems.…”