Functional outcomes of an integrated Parkinson's Disease Wellbeing Program.

INTRODUCTION

There is growing evidence that exercise provides benefit in treating motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD).

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study were to determine (a) whether a 5-week PD-specific program resulted in sustained physical and psychosocial benefits, and (b) the relationship between patient characteristics, exercise, falls and physical and psychosocial parameters.

DESIGN

Single-centre prospective observational study.

METHODS

A total of 135 consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate PD underwent a 5-week PD-specific education and exercise program from August 2013 to March 2015. Gait, mobility and psychosocial measures were compared at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 months.

RESULTS

Significant improvements in physical (walking distance in 2 minutes, number of "Sit To Stands" in 30 seconds, time in seconds taken to "Timed Up and Go," fast gait velocity over 10 m, Berg Balance Scale [BBS]) and psychosocial (quality of life (QoL) [PDQ-39], depression and anxiety [DASS-21], and fatigue [PSF-16]) measures were seen at 6 weeks (all P < .01) with physical improvements sustained at 12 months (all P < .001). The number of patients at 12 months with ≥1 fall reduced from 66% to 33%, and the number not exercising reduced from 42% to 21%. A lack of exercise correlated with ≥1 fall at 12 months (OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.36-8.39, P = .009). It was also associated with poorer balance and psychosocial parameters at 12 months (all P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients recruited into a 5-week Parkinson's disease education and exercise program achieved significant 12-month benefits in physical but not psychosocial measures. Patients with ≥1 fall post-treatment were less likely to have been exercising at 12-month follow-up.