The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intensive inpatient rehabilitation on the motor, speech, and articulation functions and abilities of PD patients who were hospitalized and receiving treatment at Aomori Prefectural Central hospital.
This study obtained the approval of the Ethics Committee of Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital and was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. This study included 31 patients with PD admitted to Aomori Prefectural Central Hospital from July 2019 to December 2023 who completed the intensive inpatient rehabilitation program out of 42 who gave informed consent to participate. Inpatient intensive rehabilitation consisted of a three-week treatment with 90 minutes daily session, 5 days a week. The 10-m walk test (10MWT), 6-min walk test (6MWT), functional reach test (FRT), timed up and go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), grip strength, knee extensor muscle strength, functional independence measurement (FIM), maximum expiratory time, maximum phonation time, maximum phonation volume, and alternating repetitive movement time were scored before and after the intervention.
There were significant improvements in the 10MWT, 6MWT, FRT, TUG, BBS, knee extensor muscle strength, FIM, maximum expiratory time, maximum phonation time, and maximum phonation volume but no significant improvement in grip strength or alternating repetitive movement time.
Intensive inpatient rehabilitation program for patients with PD patients improve ADLs and motor ability, especially walking ability, walking endurance, balance. The program also improves speech and articulation function.
This study demonstrates that an intensive rehabilitation program for patients with PD improves their ADLs and motor ability, balance, speech, and articulation function.
intensive inpatient rehabilitation program
movement disorders
