Why Not a Global Postural Reeducation as an Alternative Therapy Applied to Alzheimer's Patients in Nursing Homes? A Pioneer Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION

The classical gymnastics has always given great importance to exercises of -rachis extension and abduction of the arms during deep inhalation to acquire a greater -thoracic capacity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to organize the concentration and the self-limited capacity of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) thanks to the physical and -respiratory exercise modalities of global postural reeducation.

DESIGN

A randomized controlled trial was conducted.

SETTING

Nursing homes.

PARTICIPANTS

Patients with probable AD diagnosis.

INTERVENTION

The global postural reeducation method (GPR) was implemented for a total of 72 treatment sessionswith a frequency of 3 times a week, for 24 weeks consecutively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Mini Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease and Tinetti Scale and respiratory rate frequency (RSP/F) were applied.

RESULTS

Ninety elderly people participated in this study, precisely 50 women and 40 men aged 67-92 years (mean age = 81.17, SD = 5.24). The therapy had a significant effect on the difference between groups in all the outcomes (p < 0.05 in all cases) with a large effect size with exception of the RSP/F (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated a very good tolerance rate on behalf of the significant results achieved.