Effectiveness of Physiotherapy Interventions for Patients With Parkinson's Disease

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Parkinson Disease
• Interventions: Other: Education Classes; Other: Physiotherapy Interventions

• Registration Number: NCT01076712
• Lead Sponsor: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong

Brief Summary

Parkinson's Disease is an incurable and progressive disease. Treatment includes medication and non-pharmacological intervention such as physiotherapy. Physiotherapy is a main component of non-pharmacological interventions. It includes exercise to strengthen the muscles; improves balance and walking, and adopts the use of visual cue training. Treatment has been found to be effective in patients with mild impairment up to 6 months post-treatment. The present study will investigate the effectiveness of treatment for patients with mild to moderate impairment for short term (3-month) and long term (1 year). The hypothesis is that compared to patient education alone, physiotherapy intervention for patients with Parkinson's disease leads to improve function and quality of life.

Detailed Description

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an incurable and progressive disease (Rubenis 2007). Current management include medical, neuro-surgical and non-pharmacological intervention. Physiotherapy is a major component in non-pharmacological interventions. Effective interventions including visual or auditory cues improves gait (Nieuwboer et al. 2007), exercise is effective in improving balance (Hirsch et al 2003); intense treadmill training improves motor control, quality of life and walking speed so as to sustain improvement in gait speed and motor control post 4 weeks of treatment (Herman et al 2007). Patient with PD attending physiotherapy twice weekly, one and half hour for 12 weeks showed improvement in walking speed and Activities of Daily Living (Ellis et al 2005). However, the majority of focus on patients in the Hoehn and Yahr stage of 2 to 3 and long term effect is lacking (Kwakkel et al 2007). A knowledge gap is present in the effectiveness of physiotherapy training of patients with Parkinson's disease in the more advanced stage of disease and long term effect is lacking. The aim of the study is to investigate the immediate, short-term \& long-term clinical effects of physiotherapy training of patients with Parkinson's disease. The hypothesis is that compared to patient education alone, physiotherapy intervention for patients with Parkinson's disease leads to improve function and quality of life.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2010-02-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-02-25
• Study First Posted: 2010-02-26
• Status Verified: 2010-03
• Study Start: 2010-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-03-09
• Last Update Posted: 2010-03-10
• Primary Completion: 2012-10
• Study Completion: 2012-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 112

Inclusion Criteria

• Stable medication usage
• Hoehn and Yahr stage II to IV
• At least 1 score of 2 or more for at least 1 limb of either the tremor, rigidity, or bradykinesia item of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)
• Able to walk independently
• No severe cognitive impairments (Mini-Mental State Examination - Chinese Cantonese version) score greater than 24

Exclusion Criteria

• Other severe neurological, cardiopulmonary, or orthopedic disorders
• Having participated in a physiotherapy or rehabilitation program in previous 2 months

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Education	Education Classes	Education
Physiotherapy Interventions	Physiotherapy Interventions	Physiotherapy Interventions including strengthening exercise, balance training, gait training with visual cue, gait training with treadmill.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale	Baseline. Immediate, 3-month, 6-month and 1 year Post-intervention
Levodopa equivalent daily dosage (LEDD)	Baseline. Immediate, 3-month, 6-month and 1 year Post-intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (Chinese version)	Baseline. Immediate, 3-month, 6-month and 1 year Post-intervention
Number of Injurious Falls	Baseline. Immediate, 3-month, 6-month and 1 year Post-intervention
Timed Up and Go Test	Baseline. Immediate, 3-month, 6-month and 1 year Post-intervention
Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (Standard Chinese Version)	Baseline. Immediate, 3-month, 6-month and 1 year Post-intervention	Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (Standard Chinese Version) - PDQ-39 (Chinese)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Queen Elizabeth Hospital; 🇭🇰 Kowloon, Hong Kong