The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of boxing vs. conventional physiotherapy techniques in improving the quality of movement, motor, cognitive functions, balance, and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD).The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of boxing vs. conventional physiotherapy techniques in improving the quality of movement, motor, cognitive functions, balance, and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). A single-blinded randomized controlled study.
14 participants with PD were randomized into two groups; boxing (n = 7) or conventional techniques (n = 7). Exclusion Criteria: Patients with cognitive impairment (MOCA score 23), other neurological/orthopedic conditions affecting gait & balance, patients following another physiotherapy program, recent drug adjustment or on medications that might interfere with quality of movement or level of attention, & patients on wheelchair (H&Y stage 5). Participants in the experimental group received boxing training only, practiced in a static and dynamic manners using punch mitts. The dynamic position done by changing the position of feet. Participants in the control group received training of balance, coordination, fine-motor training, ball exercises. Participants were assessed at baseline and after six weeks of follow up using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), MDS- unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), mini-BESTest, 6-Metre Timed Walk (6MTW).
Fourteen PD patients with a mean age of 58.5 y participated in the trial, statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in UPDRS in both groups (p value 0.05) ,non-significant improvement in MoCA for both groups (p value > 0.05). A significant reduction in MDS-UPDRS was detected in both groups (p value 0.05). The secondary outcomes included both mini-BESTest & 6MTW, showed an improvement in both, which was of a statistically significant in 6MTW (p value 0.05).However no significant difference was detected between the two groups in all of the outcomes evaluated.
boxing is as beneficial as conventional physiotherapy techniques in improving the quality of movement, motor, cognitive functions, balance, and non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD).
Hopefully, this type of treatment can be practiced more in neurological rehabilitation program in The Middle East, specially Kuwait as it proved to be beneficial & cost effective.
Boxing
Physiotherapy
