The Effect of 8 Weeks of Otago Exercise on the Selected Walking Factors in Patients With Parkinson Disease

Abstract

Background and Aims Physical activities play a preventive role in Parkinson disease by maintaining the physical fitness and health of the patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of Otago exercise on selected walking factors in patients with Parkinson disease. Methods This quasi-experimental study was performed on the experimental and control groups with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical population of the present study comprised all patients with Parkinson disease (with at least stage three on the Hoehn and Yahr intensity scale) referred to the neurologist offices with an age range of 55-75 years. The subjects were randomly divided into groups of Otago exercises (n=16, with Mean±SD age: 63.0±6.4 years, Mean±SD weight: 65.7±5.2 kg, and mean height 1.74±0.07 m) and control (n=16; with Mean±SD age: 63.4±5.7 years, Mean±SD weight: 64.1±5.9 kg, and Mean±SD height: 1.72±0.09 m). Eight weeks of Otago exercise was performed three times a week for 60 minutes at each session. A motion analysis system consisting of 8 cameras and 2 force plates was used to record selected walking factors, including step length, step width, and knee joint extension changes. The paired t test was used to compare each group in the pretest and posttest, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to compare between groups. Results The results showed significant differences in the step length, step width, and knee extension changes in patients with Parkinson disease between the experimental and control groups (P<0.001). Also, the results showed that patients with Parkinson disease had longer step length, shorter step width, and greater knee extension in both legs after Otago exercise. Conclusion Otago exercises can be used as one of the easy and low-cost methods in improving the walking components of patients with Parkinson disease.