Effect of home-based Tai Chi, Yoga or conventional balance exercise on functional balance and mobility among persons with idiopathic Parkinson's disease: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) invariably experience functional decline in a number of motor and non-motor domains affecting posture, balance and gait. Numerous clinical studies have examined effects of various types of exercise on motor and non-motor problems. But still much gap remains in our understanding of various therapies and their effect on delaying or slowing the dopamine neuron degeneration. Recently, Tai Chi and Yoga both have gained popularity as complementary therapies, since both have components for mind and body control.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether eight weeks of home-based Tai Chi or Yoga was more effective than regular balance exercises on functional balance and mobility.

METHODS

Twenty-seven individuals with Idiopathic PD (Modified Hoehn and Yahr stages 2.5-3) were randomly assigned to either Tai Chi, Yoga or Conventional exercise group. All the participants were evaluated for Functional Balance and Mobility using Berg Balance Scale, Timed 10 m Walk test and Timed Up and Go test before and after eight weeks of training.

RESULTS

The results were analyzed using two-way mixed ANOVA which showed that there was a significant main effect for time as F (1, 24)  74.18, , for overall balance in Berg Balance Scale. There was also significant main effect of time on mobility overall as F(1, 24) , , in Timed up and Go test and F(1, 24) , , for 10 m Walk test. There was a significant interaction effect for with F(2, 24) , , for balance. With respect to mobility, the values F(2, 24) , , in Timed Up and Go test and F(2, 24) , , in 10 m Walk test showed a significant interaction. But there was no significant main effect between the groups for both balance and mobility.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that Tai Chi as well as Yoga are well adhered and are attractive options for a home-based setting. As any form of physical activity is considered beneficial for individuals with PD either Tai Chi, Yoga or conventional balance exercises could be used as therapeutic intervention to optimize balance and mobility. Further studies are necessary to understand the mind-body benefits of Tai Chi and Yoga either as multicomponent physical activities or as individual therapies in various stages of PD.