Does the Type of Online Group-based Exercise Influence the Feasibility of Telerehabilitation in People with Parkinson's Disease? A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Ensuring equitable access to effective interventions for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) remains a global challenge. Although dance and multimodal exercise improve motor and non-motor symptoms, no randomized controlled trial has compared their feasibility, safety, and participants' perceptions when delivered online in a group-based format.

METHODS

This randomized controlled feasibility trial allocated participants to a dance or multimodal exercise group incorporating music. Interventions were delivered via videoconference twice weekly for 12 weeks. Feasibility and safety were assessed through adherence, attendance, technological barriers, and adverse events. Participant perceptions were evaluated post-intervention using study-specific structured interviews.

RESULTS

Seventy-five participants were enrolled (dance: n = 40; multimodal exercise: n = 35), predominantly women, with mild-to-moderate PD (Hoehn & Yahr Scale 1.0-3.0). Both interventions were feasible and safe, with high adherence (82.5-85.7%), moderate attendance, and no adverse events with similar participants' perceptions across the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Group-based online dance and multimodal exercise are feasible, safe, and well accepted for people with mild-to-moderate PD, supporting their use as telerehabilitation options in clinical practice.