Nowadays, research specifically on the application of BSE in PD patients is relatively scarce. This study aims to evaluate the effects of moderate-intensity BSE on walking endurance, balance ability, and quality of life in patients with PD, providing additional evidence for clinical exercise therapy.
The study involved 20 PD patients aged 40 to 89, classified between Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 to 3. Over an 8-week period, participants engaged in two 20-minute bench stepping sessions per week, targeting moderate intensity (40-60% heart rate reserve). The program focused on stepping movements in different directions, and exercise intensity was progressively increased. Assessments included the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) for motor function, the 6-Minute Walking Test (6MWT) for cardiovascular endurance, the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) for quality of life, and the BIODEX Balance System for postural stability and fall risk.
Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare changes in the patients' scores before and after the intervention. Effect sizes were also calculated to assess the clinical significance of the improvements.
This study protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Kaohsiung Medical University.
After 8 weeks of BSE, significant improvements were observed in the following assessments:
1. 6MWT: Patients showed a significant increase in walking distance (p = 0.0001), with an effect size of 1.26, indicating notable improvements in cardiovascular endurance and walking function.
2. SPPB: SPPB scores significantly improved (p = 0.0013), with an effect size of 0.91, reflecting marked improvements in lower limb strength and motor function.
3. PDQ-39: Although the scores showed a decrease, suggesting improvement in quality of life, the change did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.0644), with an effect size of 0.43, indicating a moderate impact on quality of life.
4. Postural Stability and Fall Risk: No significant changes were observed in postural stability (p = 0.5014, effect size = 0.26) or fall risk (p = 0.6671, effect size = 0.07), indicating limited improvement in balance and fall risk following the exercise intervention.
BSE is an effective intervention strategy for patients with Parkinson’s disease, significantly improving motor function, particularly in terms of walking endurance and lower limb strength. Future research should explore the impact of longer-term and higher-intensity training on balance and fall risk to maximize therapeutic benefits.
This study promotes bench stepping exercise as a low-cost, effective intervention for improving motor function in Parkinson's disease, influencing physiotherapy practice, education, and policy by integrating structured, evidence-based exercise into patient care.
Motor function
quality of life
