title: Effects of perceptive rehabilitation on balance control in patients with Parkinson's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subjects affected by Parkinson's disease have substantially impaired static and dynamic balance, leading to diminished functional ability. Conventional and innovative exercises have been suggested, but most of them were focused on motor features of posture and gait, deserving poor attention to perceptive aspects of balance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the perceptive rehabilitation, based on perceptual surfaces, for postural balance (primary aim) and pain, depression and activity daily living.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, we have treated 9 patients with Parkinson's disease undergone rehabilitation aiming to restoring their correct body midline perception, according a schema treatment - no treatment - treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the rehabilitative intervention, both Tinetti balance score (p = 0.007 in both phases) and Tinetti gait score (p = 0.011 and p = 0.016, respectively), such as pain relief assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (p = 0.011, p = 0.010) were improved. Conversely in the phase of no-intervention, lasting the same amount of time, it was showed a significant reduction of Tinetti Balance score (p = 0.010) and no significant changes in terms of Tinetti Gait score and Visual Analogue Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results highlighted the importance of introducing perceptive training into the exercises proposed to patients with Parkinson's disease for reducing both their static and dynamic balance impairments.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation, I.R.C.C.S Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morone
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation, I.R.C.C.S Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosati
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zangrando
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Policlinico Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Saraceni
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation, I.R.C.C.S Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paolucci
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation, I.R.C.C.S Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iosa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Perceptive Rehabilitation; balance; low back pain; motor outcomes; trunk midline