A home program of strength training, movement strategy training and education did not prevent falls in people with Parkinson's disease: a randomised trial.
For people with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, does a 6-week, comprehensive, home exercise program reduce falls and disability and improve health-related quality of life? Is the program cost-effective?



Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation and assessor blinding.



One hundred and thirty-three community-dwelling adults with Parkinson's disease.



The experimental group completed a 6-week home program comprising progressive resistance strength training, movement strategy training and falls education. The control group completed 6 weeks of non-specific life skills training. Participants in both groups received weekly therapist-guided sessions for 6 consecutive weeks and a weekly self-directed home program.



The primary outcome was the rate of falls, documented for the 12-month period immediately after therapy. Secondary outcomes were disability and health-related quality of life, assessed before and after intervention and at a 12-month follow-up.



A total of 2255 falls were reported by the 12-month follow-up. The proportion of fallers in the experimental and control groups was 61 and 72%, respectively, which was not statistically significantly different (RR=0.85, 95% CI 0.66 to 1.09). There was no significant between-group difference in the rate of falls (incidence rate ratio=1.58, 95% CI 0.73 to 3.43). A survival analysis of participant time to first fall did not show a significant between-group difference (log-rank test χ2=0.79, p=0.37). No significant between-group differences occurred for mobility, disability or quality of life. The mean cost of delivering the experimental intervention was AUD1596.



A home program of strength and movement strategy training and falls education does not prevent falls when applied at the dose used in this study. Arguably, the dosage of therapy was insufficient. Future trials need to explore further therapy content, repetitions and duration, in order to optimise outcomes and cost-effectiveness. [Morris ME, Taylor NF, Watts JJ, Evans A, Horne M, Kempster P, Danoudis M, McGinley J, Martin C, Menz HB (2017) A home program of strength training, movement strategy training and education did not prevent falls in people with Parkinson's disease: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 63: 94-100].
La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University; Northpark Private Hospital (Healthscope).
Meg E
ME
Morris
La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University; Allied Health Clinical Research Office, Eastern Health.
Nicholas F
NF
Taylor
Centre for Population Health Research, Faculty of Health, Deakin University.
Jennifer J
JJ
Watts
The University of Melbourne.
Andrew
A
Evans
Florey Institute for Neurosciences and Mental Health; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne.
Malcolm
M
Horne
Neurosciences Department, Monash Health; Department of Medicine, Monash University.
Peter
P
Kempster
La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University.
Mary
M
Danoudis
Physiotherapy Department, The University of Melbourne.
Jennifer
J
McGinley
Physiotherapy Department, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Clarissa
C
Martin
La Trobe University Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University.
Hylton B
HB
Menz
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D004856:Postural Balance; D012107:Research Design; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*
Falls; Parkinson’s disease; Physical therapy; Randomised trial; Rehabilitation