Multidisciplinary rehabilitation improves quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease

This study evaluated whether an intensive rehabilitation treatment improves the quality of life of patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Researchers suggested that this treatment could improve the quality of life of these patients in the short and long terms.

PD is a progressive disease that affects body movement, balance and body senses. The symptoms caused by PD decrease the quality of life of these patients. They affect their social and emotional well-being. The drugs used to treat these symptoms have a decreased effectiveness over time and side effects.

Prior studies showed that rehabilitation improves the treatment and management of PD. However, many included a small number of participants. It is important to establish the role of rehabilitation in the quality of life of patients with PD.

This study included 234 patients with PD. 186 patients underwent an intensive rehabilitation treatment and 48 who did not (control group). The rehabilitation treatment included cardio exercises, motor-cognitive exercises (for the memory and attention) and physical therapy. Questionnaires on the quality of life were filled by the patients at 2, 10 and 18 weeks after the start of the study.

Patients in the treatment group had significant improvements in quality of life at 10 and 18 weeks when compared to the control group. Rehabilitation was also associated with memory, mobility and pain improvements in patients with PD.

This study determined that an intensive rehabilitation treatment improved the quality of life of patients with PD, in the short and long term.

Talk to your doctor about rehabilitation programmes.