Efficacy of intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation in Parkinson’s disease: a randomised controlled study

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 89; no. 8; pp. 828 - 835
• Main Authors: Ferrazzoli, Davide, Ortelli, Paola, Zivi, Ilaria, Cian, Veronica, Urso, Elisa, Ghilardi, Maria Felice, Maestri, Roberto, Frazzitta, Giuseppe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.08.2018; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Research paper
• Subjects: Aerobics; Between-subjects design; Chronic illnesses; Clinical trials; Dopamine; Exercise; Fitness equipment; Hospitals; Movement Disorders; Parkinson's disease; Physical fitness; Posture; Quality of life; Rehabilitation; Singers; Studies; Traumatic brain injury; Italy
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316437

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether a 4-week multidisciplinary, aerobic, motor-cognitive and intensive rehabilitation treatment (MIRT) improves the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), in the short-term and long-term period.MethodsThis is a prospective, parallel-group, single-centre, single-blind, randomised clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02756676). 186 patients with PD, assigned to experimental group, underwent MIRT; conversely, 48 patients, assigned to control group, did not receive rehabilitation. Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39 was assessed 2 (T0), 10 (T1) and 18 (T2, only experimental group) weeks after the enrolment. We compared T1 versus T0 scores within subjects and delta scores (T1–T0) between subjects. To investigate the long-term effects, we compared T2 and T0 scores in the experimental group.ResultsAt T0, no between-group differences in the Global Index Score (GBI) were observed (experimental group: 43.6±21.4, controls: 41.6±22.9, P=0.50). At T1, we did not find significant changes in controls (delta score: 1.2±9.9, P=0.23), and we found an improvement in GBI in the experimental group (delta score: −8.3±18.0, P<0.0001), significant also between subjects (P<0.0001). Comparing T2 versus T0 in the experimental group, the GBI maintained a significant improvement (delta score: −4.8±17.5, P<0.0001).ConclusionsA rehabilitation treatment such as MIRT could improve QoL in patients with PD in the short-term and long-term period. Even though the single-blind design and the possible role of the placebo effect on the conclusive results must be considered as limitations of this study, the improvement in outcome measure, also maintained after a 3-month follow-up period, suggests the effectiveness of MIRT on the QoL.Clinical trial registrationNCT02756676: Pre-results.