The effect of a home-based exercise program on gait characteristics in an individual with Parkinson’s disease over a one-year period: A case study

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a restriction on physiotherapy clinical visits for supervised exercise. It is important that individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) continue an exercise regime at home during the pandemic and also in normal situations.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the case history of an individual with PD who used a developed home-based exercise programme for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: A 67 year-old married woman was diagnosed with PD stage 2.5 on the modified Hoehn and Yahr (HY) scale. Gait characteristics and the Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) motor scores were assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, and 12 months. The home-based exercise program included breathing exercises, posture correction, stretching exercises, rotation of the axial segments, balance training, and task-specific gait training.
Results: After 12 months, her MDS-UPDRS motor scores decreased when compared to baseline and 10 weeks, and gait characteristics at 12 months showed an increase in the degree of foot rotation, step length, cadence, and gait speed when compared to baseline and 10 weeks.
Conclusion: This case study showed that improvements in MDS-UPDRS and gait characteristics can continue over a 12 month period as a result of a home-based exercise programme. Therefore, home-based exercise programs should be encouraged with weekly monitoring, especially in individuals with gait disorders which show deterioration.