Aqua-Leuven 15-18 April 2015 Physiotherapist Gotti Francesco

Balance Dysfunction • Is one of the most

disabling problems of patient with Parkinson’s Disease

• Increases the risk of falls and worsens the quality of life

Hydrotherapy seems to improve balance in PD

Aims

1. Compare the efficacy between water-based and land-based treatment on Balance in PD patients

2. Evaluate the efficacy of a water therapy on Balance in a follow-up period

Methods

Baseline

T1

6-Months Follow-up

Stage 2-3 of H&Y scale

Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease

OUTCOMES

Berg Balance Scale (BBS)

UPDRS II and III

Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)

Water- Based Protocol • 3 times a week for 4 weeks

• 45 minutes per session

• Physiotherapist-patient ratio 1 to 1

INTENSIVE

AEROBIC

GOAL-BASED

• 3 different moments: WARM UP, SPECIFIC PHASE, COOL DOWN

• Targeted progressive exercises

Treatment in our pool

Balance exercises

Results

Both groups showed a significant improvement after treatment in all the outcomes

Patients who had undergone hydrotherapy treatment maintained their BBS values even after 6-months

Only the interaction time-treatment in GROUP 2 is significant

Results

Balance improvement remains significant over time only in GROUP 2

Conclusion

Hydrotherapy may be a possible treatment for balance dysfunction in Parkinsonian patients

with a moderate stage of disease

Thank you For your attention