PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PARKINSONS-DISEASE - A CONTROLLED CLINICAL-TRIAL

In a randomized, single-blind, crossover study, we evaluated physical disability in moderately advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients af ter 4 weeks of normal physical activity and 4 weeks of an intensive ph ysical rehabilitation program. We used a timed motor task and a standa rd assessment of PD severity (the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating S cale [UPDRS] with subscales for mentation, activities of daily living [ADL], and motor function) completed by an investigator blinded to the physical rehabilitation status of the patient. Following physical reh abilitation, there was significant improvement in the UPDRS ADL and mo tor scores, but no change in mentation score. During the 6 months foll owing physical rehabilitation, patients did not regularly exercise, an d the UPDRS scores returned to baseline. We conclude that physical dis ability in moderately advanced PD objectively improves with a regular physical rehabilitation program, but this improvement is not sustained when normal activity is resumed.