title: Aquatic Exercise Therapy for People With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: To evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise therapy on gait variability and disability compared with usual care for people with Parkinson disease (PD).
  
  
  
  Single-blind randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  
  Community-based hydrotherapy pool.
  
  
  
  Individuals with PD (Hoehn-Yahr stages I-III) (N=21).
  
  
  
  Participants were randomly assigned to either an aquatic exercise therapy group (45min, twice a week for 6wk) or a group that received usual care.
  
  
  
  The primary outcome measure was gait variability as measured using a motion capture system. Secondary outcomes were quality of life measured on the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 and freezing of gait and motor disability quantified by the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. Feasibility was evaluated by measuring safety, adverse events, and participant satisfaction.
  
  
  
  People in the aquatic therapy group and usual care group showed similar small improvements in gait variability. The aquatic therapy group showed greater improvements in disability than the usual care group (P<.01). No differences between groups or over time were identified for freezing of gait or quality of life. Aquatic therapy sessions were safe and enjoyable with no adverse events.
  
  
  
  Aquatic therapy appears feasible and safe for some people in the early stages of PD.
authors.affiliation: St. Gabriel's Center, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: louisecarrollphysio@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurorehabilitation, Parkinson's Disease Excellence Center, Fresco Institute Italy - NYU Langone, Casa di Cura Villa Margherita via Costacolonna n 1 Arcugnano, Vicenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.affiliation: Northpark Private Hospital Healthscope Australia and La Trobe Center for Sport and Exercise Medicine Research, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Meg E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Statistical Consulting Unit/CSTAR @ UL, Department of Maths and Statistics, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Therapies, Health Sciences Building, University of Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Clifford
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D061214:Patient Safety; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Exercise; Gait; Hydrotherapy; Parkinson disease; Rehabilitation