A pre and post-analysis of the 10-metre walk test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), and PDQ-8 following participation in a 6-week physiotherapy-led exercise group for people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Nicole Andrewartha1, Glenn Boardman2, Vinicius Cavalheri3,4, Jimena Garcia-Vega51Physiotherapy Department, Rockingham General Hospital, Perth, WA , Australia2Research Support and Development, South Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia3Curtin School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia4Allied Health, South Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia5Physiotherapy Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA , Australia
Abstract
Introduction: In people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), this study aimed to investigate changes in functional capacity and quality of life after participation in a physiotherapy-led group exercise intervention.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of data collected from 35 people with PD. Participants underwent a 6-week physiotherapy-led group exercise intervention. Group exercise sessions were delivered once a week and included aerobic training, upper and lower body resistance training, balance and coordination exercises. Pre- and post-intervention measures of functional capacity (10-metre walk test [10MWT] and Timed Up and Go [TUG]) and quality of life (Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-8 [PQD-8]; score ranges between 0 and 32 with lower scores indicating a better quality of life) were collected.
Results: Twenty-nine, 35 and 25 participants completed the 10MWT, TUG and PDQ-8, respectively. Improvements in 10MWT and TUG performance were demonstrated (median [IQR] 10MWT: pre 0.92m/s [0.76; 1.18], post 1.10m/s [0.84 – 1.47], p=0.02; median [IQR] TUG: pre 12.7s [9.1; 17.1], post 12.0s (8.3; 15.6), p=0.003). None of these changes met the minimal detectable change (MDC) for the tests (10MWT MDC = 0.18m/s; TUG MDC = 3.5s). No difference in the PDQ-8 was shown (median [IQR] pre 10 [7; 16]; post 9.5 [6.3; 15.5]; p=0.32).
Conclusion: In people with PD, a 6-week exercise intervention delivered once a week did not produce clinically meaningful improvements in functional capacity. Changes in quality of life were not detected. These findings may be due to the short length and low frequency of the exercise intervention.
Biography
Nicole is a Senior Physiotherapist working in Neurology Outpatients at Rockingham General Hospital (RGH). She has completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Neuological Rehabilitation and has been working with people with neurological conditions for over ten years. Nicole currently runs the exercise group at RGH for people with Parkinson’s Disease.