The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of OTAGO program to improve balance and walking and prevent falls in older with PD in a spcelizaded reahbilitation service for geriatric care from La Baie Hospital, Saguenay, Quebec.
Eleven voluntary participants, aged 65 and over, with a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease took part in the study. Participants completed a battery of functional tests (e.g. Timed-up-Go: TUG), postural control (on a froce platform) and gait (on the GaitRite mat) before and after a 12-week OTAGO intervention program. Participants' clinical characteristics and falls history were also assessed during the program and up to 3, 6 and 12 months later. The OTAGO program consisted of 2 sessions per week lasting 60 min., including 12 balance exercises and 5 muscle-strengthening exercises, walking. Exercises were prescribed individually and progressively by an trainned physiotherapist. Questions on satisfaction and measures of adherence and drop-out rates were also included in the study.
Following descriptive analyses and clinical changes across time, it was possible to see an improvement in functional tests such as the TUG and 10m walking time. Also, improvement was observed for the majority of temporal parameters on the GaitRite system (16 to 43% improvement for some temporal parameters as sway time cycle); as well as an improvement in postural balance parameters from force platforme (2 to 76% of improvement across variables of center of pressure). More than 85% of participants were regular from participation on program, with 86% of engagement. 58% of participants declared a strong impact in their health from program and 100% were sastified and would continue in the futur. Only 1 over 11 participants declared one falls event after 3 months of study. The time 6 and 12 months would be still evaluated in the nex months of project.
The OTAGO program is realistic for use in Quebec and within a specialized geriatric rehabilitation service. The results were encouraging for a first study in the region and with the Parkinson's population. The effects on functionality and balance could help prevent falls, since only 1 participant reported a fall 3 months after the end of the study.
The main implications of this study are to establish the use of new programs as OTAGO, specifically designed to prevent falls, and involving exercises that address the main risk factors, such as balance and walking speed in older population with neuro-musculoskeletal disorders.
Parkinson
Falls
