Objective: To verify the effect of a dual task (DT) aquatic exercise program on the balance (static and dynamic) of individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD)

Background: Many individuals with Parkinson’s present inadequate interaction of the systems responsible for body balance. As a result, they tend to shift their center of gravity forward, being unable to perform compensatory movements to rebalance and, in this way, fall more easily. The use of cognitive-motor activities may be beneficial in these individuals, especially in the aquatic environment, because it allows situations of bodily instability, with lower risk of falls.

Methods: Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to evaluate the balance. A 10-week exercise program was conducted twice a week, 40 minutes each session in a warm pool at 33º C. Pre-intervention evaluations (T0), post-intervention (T1) and 3 months after T1 (T2)

Results: 24 individuals, 13 from the Experimental Group (EG) and 11 from the Control Group (CG), mean age 63 years (+ -13). In the BBS, the CG presented a reduction in the mean in T1 in relation to T0 (p <0.05), maintaining in T2 (p> 0.05). The EG had an increase in T1 mean in relation to T0, followed by a decrease in T2 (p <0.05).

Conclusions: The aquatic exercise program of DT promoted improvement of the EG in the variables studied, so the association of the benefits of DT with the aquatic environment constitutes a field to be explored.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/aquatic-dual-task-exercise-effects-on-body-balance-of-individuals-with-parkinsons-disease/