Health-related quality of life and alternative forms of exercise in Parkinson disease
Received 19 November 2008; received in revised form 6 January 2009; accepted 10 March 2009.
Abstract
Parkinson disease (PD) reduces health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but exercise may improve HRQoL. This pilot study compared the effects of Tango, Waltz/Foxtrot, Tai Chi and No Intervention on HRQoL in individuals with PD. Seventy-five persons with PD (Hoehn and Yahr I-III) were assigned to 20 lessons of Tango, Waltz/Foxtrot, Tai Chi, or an untreated No Intervention group. Participants completed the PDQ-39 before and after participation in 20 classes or within 13weeks in the case of the No Intervention group. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs determined differences between interventions. Tango significantly improved on mobility (p=0.03), social support (p=0.05) and the PDQ-39 SI (p<0.01) at post-testing. No significant changes in HRQoL were noted in the Waltz/Foxtrot, Tai Chi or No Intervention. Tango may be helpful for improving HRQoL in PD because it addresses balance and gait deficits in the context of a social interaction that requires working closely with a partner.
aProgram in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
bDepartment of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
cDepartment of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
Corresponding author. Washington University School of Medicine, Program in Physical Therapy, Campus Box 8502, 4444 Forest Park Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108, USA. Tel.: +1 314 286 1425.
ABSTRACT