title: Physical Therapy Versus a General Exercise Programme in Patients with Hoehn Yahr Stage II Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Several studies suggest that general exercise (GE) and physical therapy programmes (PT) improve the outcomes of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients; however, the available data do not allow a determination of which treatment is more effective. Our study aims to compare the effects of physiotherapy and general exercise in Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  
  Design and setting: Randomized controlled trial -general hospital outpatient clinic. The participants were patients with Hoehn Yahr stage II PD. Two randomized groups: one receiving PT and one receiving GE. The outcome measures were the FIM, Hamilton Rating Scale, TUG test, and UPDRS.
  
  
  
  FIM median scores improved by 3 points in the PT group after treatment, and the improvements were maintained at follow-up. The GE FIM median scores were unchanged after treatment and were reduced by 1 point at follow-up (p < 0.05). The TUG test time was reduced in the PT group but increased in the GE group with a 3-second difference between groups at follow-up, suggesting improved functional mobility after specific physiotherapy (p < 0.05). The UPDRS median score change from baseline was significantly different between the two groups at the end of treatment (6.5 points) and at follow-up (11 points), with a benefit for the physiotherapy group.
  
  
  
  Physiotherapy seems to be more effective than a generic exercise programme in patients with Hoehn Yahr stage II PD.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Savina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dipasquale
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, AO Melegnano, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sasanelli
authors.affiliation: Zucchi Clinical Istitute, Carate Brianza, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Messineo
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piscitelli
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cornaggia
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Cerri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities
keywords: Parkinson’s disease; general exercise; physical therapy modalities; physiotherapy