The Effect of e-Exercise Program on Balance, Gait, and Endurance in Patients with Parkinson's Disease

Purpose : Patients with Parkionson's disease have a temporal and spatial restriction for their's exercise treatment. The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness of e-exercise program on balance, gait, and endurance ability in people with Parkinson's disease. Methods : Eighteen participants, with Parkinson's disease that ranged from stage to on the Hoehn & Yahr scale, were assigned to two group. Two group were divided into on-line group that exercised in home by computer video, and off-line group that exercised in clinical center. Exercise program that included 3 sections (warm-up, main exercise, cool down)-5 parts(stretch, strength, balance, gait, stretch) was used to train for participants. We used the functional reach test for balance ability, timed up and go test for gait ability, 6 minute walking test for endurance ability. Wilkoxon sign lank tests were used to assess the difference of balance, gait, and endurance ability in pre-and post test each groups. Mann-whitney tests were used to assess the difference of balance, gait, and endurance ability between groups. Results : Wilkoxon sign lank tests revealed that both group were improved the balance, gait and endurance agility by e-exercise program intervention. Mann-whitney tests showed that there were no differences between groups in the variation of balance, gait, endurance ability. Conclusion : We believe that exercise program with on-line(e-exercise program) is an effective intervention for people with Parkinson's disease and is no different than off-line exercise group in the variation of balance, gait, endurance ability.