Effectiveness of a Program With Aquatic Therapy in Patients With Parkinson's Disease Clinical Trial

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of an aquatic Ai Chi training program on the perception of pain, the maintenance of balance and the functional independence of patients with Parkinson's disease.

Fifteen patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr range: 1-3) participated in a program of Aquatic Ai Chi lasting ten weeks with sessions held twice weekly. These were compared to a group of 15 Parkinson patients (control group) who received therapy on dry land.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Parkinson Disease; Physical Disability
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: aquatic Ai Chi; Other: control

Detailed Description

All study participants met the following inclusion criteria: individuals diagnosed with PD in stages 1 to 3 (Hoehn and Yahr Scale), older than 40 years, in the off phase (not medicated) and with a score greater or equal to 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination Scale, without any medical contraindications and who accepted the study norms (regular assistance and active participation). The exclusion criteria were: individuals who did not comply with the above mentioned criteria, and the presence of articular and/or muscular lesions in the lower limbs affecting independent gait.

The procedure of randomization was performed for the overall sample using stratified randomization controlling for the Hoehn & Yahr stage employing Excell software (Microsoft Excell 2013: Microsoft Corp. Redmond WA).

The participants received an initial assessment on dry land lasting 30-45 minutes, performed by a physiotherapist not involved in the study. Timetable norms were disclosed as well as recommendations regarding appropriate clothing for the activity. A baseline assessment was performed prior to commencing therapy. This was repeated upon completion of all sessions while a follow-up assessment took place one month later.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Almería
    • La CAñada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain, 04120
      • University of Almeria

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• individuals diagnosed with PD in stages 1 to 3 (Hoehn and Yahr Scale), older than 40 years, in the off phase (not medicated) and with a score greater or equal to 24 on the Mini-Mental State Examination Scale, without any medical contraindications and who accepted the study norms (regular assistance and active participation).

Exclusion Criteria:

• individuals who did not comply with the above mentioned criteria, and the presence of articular and/or muscular lesions in the lower limbs affecting independent gait.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: variable aquatic Ai Chi; The 15 patients assigned to the aquatic therapy group (experimental group) received 20 twice-weekly sessions in total, during the same period of time as the control group. These 20 sessions consisted of group sessions lasting 45-minutes. The sessions were designed with a gradual increase in difficulty. Initially, a recreational warm-up activity was performed, followed by 30 minutes dedicated to practicing the Ai Chi Program. At the end of the session there was a calming down activity. The exercises were performed in a specific order, until completion of the 19 possible movements.	Other: aquatic Ai Chi; The sessions took place in a pool measuring 20 m x 6 m, at a depth of 110 cm. The water temperature was 30oC (with variations of less than 0.5o) and the room temperature was 27.5oC (with variations of less than 1o). The proportions of the pool were ideally suited for collective treatment. The sessions were designed with a gradual increase in difficulty. Initially, a recreational warm-up activity was performed, followed by 30 minutes dedicated to practicing the Ai Chi Program. At the end of the session there was a calming down activity. The exercises were performed in a specific order, until completion of the 19 possible movements.
Placebo Comparator: variable dry land; These sessions consisted of group sessions of supervised training lasting 45 minutes each. These comprised a 10-minute warm-up that included exercises for gait, trunk mobility and exercises involving the upper and lower limbs. The central part of the sessions consisted of 30-40 minutes of strength training and aerobic exercises, both individual and in groups. Each session was performed with a specific intensity goal, in order to end with a cooling down period, comprising 20 minutes of functional exercises based on activities of daily living, balance exercises, facial muscle exercises, proprioceptive exercises, muscle relaxation and stretching.	Other: control; These sessions consisted of group sessions of supervised training lasting 45 minutes each. These comprised a 10-minute warm-up that included exercises for gait, trunk mobility and exercises involving the upper and lower limbs. The central part of the sessions consisted of 30-40 minutes of strength training and aerobic exercises, both individual and in groups. Each session was performed with a specific intensity goal, in order to end with a cooling down period, comprising 20 minutes of functional exercises based on activities of daily living, balance exercises, facial muscle exercises, proprioceptive exercises, muscle relaxation and stretching.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pain assessed with VAS scale	VAS scale	ten weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Balance assessed with Berg Balance scale	Berg Balance scale	ten weeks
Functionality assessed with UPDRS scale	UPDRS scale	ten weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Almeria

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 7, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 30, 2019
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 20, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 2, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): November 20, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 20, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 15, 2019
• Last Verified: November 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Parkinson Disease
• Other Study ID Numbers: spd205

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No