Effect of physical therapy on the isokinetic performance of knee flexors and extensors and functional balance in older adults with Parkinson's disease, according to severity.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effects of a physical therapy intervention on the muscle strength and power of the knee flexors and extensors and functional balance in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD), according to its clinical severity.

METHODS

Forty older adults diagnosed with PD were evaluated before and after 48-week of a basic exercise program (two 20-min sessions a week) to improve functional balance and quadriceps strength. The variables analyzed were: motor aspects of PD, assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS); functional mobility; peak torque (PT) and mean power (MP) at the knee flexors and extensors, evaluated using an isokinetic dynamometer (CYBEX®) on both legs at 60°/s (PT) and 240°/s (P); Timed Up and Go (TUG) test; and Tinetti Index. The participants were divided into three groups (GI, GII, GIII) according to their stage (I-III) of PD on the Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y) scale.

RESULTS

Muscle strength and power were greater in GI (PT: 131.14 N/kg ±61.73; P: 102.29 W/kg ±39.16) than in GII and GIII (PT: 82 N/kg ±38.27 and 89.29 N/kg ±68.78; p = 0.047; P: 56.17 W/kg ±31.99 and 68.14 W/kg ±58.18; p = 0.009). In addition, an improvement in functional balance was shown by higher indices after the intervention (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that training to increase leg strength in the early stages of PD (GI) may benefit this population and this will help in the design of interventions to improve the functional abilities of older adults with PD.