The effectiveness of exercise on gait, turning and falls in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the level of evidence for exercise based rehabilitation and its effect on gait and turning performance which have been associated with a reduced incidence of falls.

Methods and analysis: The following databases were searched systematically: Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed. Articles comparing the effects of exercise-based treatment as an experimental intervention with a non-physiotherapy intervention as the control were described using the synthesis method.

Results: Twelve out of the twenty-seven studies eligible for inclusion focussed explicitly on exercise-based treatment for gait and turning related to falls prevention in individuals with PD. Studies included specific exercise programmes relevant to locomotion performance, Tai Chi and dance therapy which have all been shown to improve temporal, spatial and kinematic parameters in gait and turning, leading to improvements in fall parameters.

Conclusion: This review evinces that Tai Chi, dance therapy and specific exercise programmes can result in improvements in turning performance and may reduce the likelihood of falls in individuals with PD, however further research is required to explore the relationship between the benefits of exercise-based interventions on functional mobility and falls incidence.