Somatosensory Focused Balance Training without cues can improve balance and gait in early Parkinson’s disease – a randomised pilot study

Abstract

Purpose: To study the effect of Somatosensory Focused Balance Training without Cues, on gait and balance in people with early Parkinson’s disease.

Materials and methods: This was a randomised pilot study. Twenty-eight community-dwelling people with early Parkinson’s disease were randomised to immediate or delayed start of a 8w-group training in a community fitness location. Outcomes were measured at preintervention and postintervention. In addition, the early start group performed a 6-month follow up. Clinical outcome measures included: Berg Balance Scale (BBS), BDL Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, 10 m walk test and the motor part of Unified Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale. Nonparametric statistics was used for analysis.

Results: Twenty-two participants (10 men, 12 female) were analysed (median age 69, Hoehn & Yahr 2.0). The participants improved significantly in performance of BBS (p = .007), BDL Balance Scale (p = .005), 10 m walk (p = .012) and mUPDRS (p = .027). At follow up, the improvement had declined. The small sample size restricts generalisability of the results.

Conclusions: The intervention showed positive effects on balance, gait and mUPDRS, suggesting that this specific approach should be further explored as a rehabilitation method to delay balance decline in people in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.

Keywords:

• Exercise
• Parkinson’s disease
• physical therapy
• postural instability
• rehabilitation
• somatosensory systems

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the physical therapists, Anna Djurberg and Elin Farén, who specialise in neurology and geriatrics, for their participation in the development of the Somatosensory Focused Balance Training, with Elin Farén in charge of the training. We also extend a special thanks to all the participants in the study.

Disclosure statement

There are no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

National Doctor School of Health Care and Sciences at Karolinska Institutet

Stockholm City Council10.13039/501100003514

Swedish Association for People with Neurological Disabilities

Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation10.13039/501100004875

The Swedish Association for People with Neurological Disabilities

The study was supported by grants from the National Doctor School of Health Care and Sciences at Karolinska Institutet, the Stockholm City Council, the Swedish Association for People with Neurological Disabilities and the Norrbacka-Eugenia Foundation.