Objective: We sought to investigate if regular balance training of moderate intensity (MIBT) has an effect on changes in postural control in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Background: Balance impairment and postural instability are the common symptoms of PD, which usually occur in the middle–later stages of the disease. Balance training may have a positive effect on treating postural instability among people with PD.
Method: Twenty-nine people with PD were randomly divided into two groups: 1) participating in MIBT (BT, n=16), 2) control group (CON, n=13). The inclusion criteria were: idiopathic PD (Hoehn and Yahr stage between 2 and 3), stable pharmacological treatment, no orthopaedic conditions limiting physical exercise or deep brain stimulation surgery, independent gait, and physical fitness enabling participation in the MIBT. The study participants took part in thirty-six MIBT sessions based on exercises with an intensity of 60-70% HRmax (three 60-min sessions per week). Postural control was measured twice: before and after 12 weeks of MIBT, or 12 weeks apart (CON). To evaluate the influence of the MIBT for stability and balance computerized dynamic posturography was used.
Results: After MIBT training programme we found improvement in stability with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). After the training the total sway path (SP) calculated in both planes (SP-EO p = 0.037, SP-EC p = 0.003), the sway path calculated in sagittal plane (AP) (SPAP-EO p = 0.011, SPAP-EC p = 0.041), the mean amplitude (MA) of the center of pressure in both planes (MA-EO p = 0.039, MA-EC p = 0.011), the mean and maximal amplitude of the center of pressure in the sagittal plane (MAAP-EO p = 0.022, MaxAP-EO p = 0.026, MAAP-EC p = 0.043) and the amount of sway (LWAP) in sagittal plane (LWAP-EC p = 0.034), and in frontal plane (ML) (LWML-EC p = 0.032), the sway area (SA) (SA-EO p = 0.036) were significantly reduced. Time center of pressure radius (TR5) were significantly increased (TR5-EO p = 0.044, TR5-EC p = 0.045). No significant differences were observed in comparison of the results in the CON group.
Conclusion: This study indicates that MIBT may improve postural control and influence visual control system and proprioception in individuals with PD.
This research was funded by the University of Physical Education in Krakow, Poland (134/BS/KRK/2017).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
J. Szymura, J. Kubica, M. Wiecek, J. Pera. Moderate-intensity balance training improve postural control in people with Parkinson’s disease [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2020; 35 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/moderate-intensity-balance-training-improve-postural-control-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed June 15, 2025.« Back to MDS Virtual Congress 2020
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/moderate-intensity-balance-training-improve-postural-control-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/