Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
Volume 15, Issue 9 , Pages 644-648, 5 November 2009

Health-related quality of life and alternative forms of exercise in Parkinson disease

  • Madeleine E. Hackney

      Affiliations

    • Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
    • ,
  • Gammon M. Earhart

      Affiliations

    • Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63108, USA
    • Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
    • Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding 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.

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.

Keywords: Parkinson disease, Quality of life, PDQ-39, Exercise, Dance

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S1353-8020(09)00065-0

doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2009.03.003

Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
Volume 15, Issue 9 , Pages 644-648, 5 November 2009

Article Tools