The Effects of a 10-Week Home-Based Exercise Programme in Individuals with Parkinson's Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Featured Application This study explored a home-based exercise program during the COVID-19 pandemic that produced positive effects on gait characteristics and clinical outcomes in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Current restrictions on clinical visits as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for home-based exercise regimes to facilitate useful, long term patterns of behaviour in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 10-week home-based exercise program designed to target improvements in axial rigidity and gait. The Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), motor scale and rigidity items, Functional axial rotation-physical (FAR-p), functional reach test (FRT), and time up and go (TUG) test were recorded. In addition, the 10-metre walk test, the fall efficacy scale international (FES-I) and the global rating of change score (GROC) were also recorded. Eighteen individuals were divided randomly into two groups: a home-based exercise group (n = 10) and a traditional physiotherapy control group (n = 8). Participants in the 10-week home-based exercise group showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in the MDS-UPDRS rigidity item, FAR-p, step length, gait velocity, FRT and FES-I when compared with the control group. This study supports the use of home-based exercises in individuals with PD. These preliminary results also support the hypothesis that targeting axial deficits may be an effective approach for improving gait and reducing falls.

Automated summary

This study explored the positive effects of a home-based exercise program on gait characteristics and clinical outcomes in individuals with Parkinson's disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results supported the use of home-based exercises in improving axial rigidity, gait velocity, and fall risk in individuals with Parkinson's disease, emphasizing the importance of targeting axial deficits for gait improvement and fall prevention.