None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Despite optimal medication, people with Parkinson's disease living in the community experience frequent and recurrent falls. These falls result in major adverse consequences both personally and economically for the person with Parkinson's disease and their families. Poor balance, reduced leg muscle strength and and freezing of gait have been found to be independent predictors for falls in people with Parkinson's disease. This randomised controlled trial aims to determine the effect of a 6 month support-group based exercise program on falls risk as well as balance, lower limb muscle strength and freezing of gait in people with Parkinson's disease who are falling or at risk of falling. Any reduction in falls rates has the potential to improve the quality of life of individuals with Parkinson's disease and their families as well as reduce the financial costs to them and the health care system.
Interventions
Exercise Group
The exercise group will perform a 40-60 minute program of leg strengthening and balance exercises three times per week for 6 months. Participants will attend a monthly exercise class conducted by a physiotherapist in association with their Parkinson's NSW Support Group, as well as perform the exercises at home. Resistance for the strengthening exercises will be applied using weighted vests. Cueing strategies will be used to assist patients to manage freezing. Participants will als
Exercise Group The exercise group will perform a 40-60 minute program of leg strengthening and balance exercises three times per week for 6 months. Participants will attend a monthly exercise class conducted by a physiotherapist in association with their Parkinson's NSW Support Group, as well as perform the exercises at home. Resistance for the strengthening exercises will be applied using weighted vests. Cueing strategies will be used to assist patients to manage freezing. Participants will also receive advice on falls prevention and a falls diary for recording any falls.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
30 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease2. Able to walk independently (with or without a walking aid)3. Fallen at least once in the last year OR is at risk of falling on assessment. 4. Parkinson's disease medication stable.
Exclusion criteria
1. Dizziness or blackouts2. Angina in the last 12 months3. Heart attack, angioplasty or heart surgery in the last 12 months4. Other neurological / musculoskeletal / cardiopulmonary / metabolic / psychological conditions that would interfere with the safe conduct of the training and testing protocol5. Significant cognitive impairment (mini mental state exam <24).
Outcome results
None listed