Outcomes of rehabilitation following device-aided therapy start in parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether adding tailored primary care rehabilitation to Device-Aided Therapy in Parkinson's disease improves outcomes more than Device-Aided Therapy alone.

DESIGN

Open randomized controlled intervention trial.

SUBJECTS/PATIENTS: Parkinson's patients initiating Device-Aided Therapy.

METHODS

Participants were randomized to receive standard care either with or without 3 months of tailored primary care rehabilitation. The primary outcome was Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, while secondary outcomes included cognitive measures and overall treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

The study was completed by 45 of 54 included patients. The primary outcome variable indicated that rehabilitation resulted in better maintenance of patient motor skills at 6 and 12 months. However, among several secondary measures, only perceived health improved more in the intervention group. Motor fluctuations improved in both groups and several other disease-specific scales demonstrated non-significant improvements. The rehabilitation group showed better cognitive performance at 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Motor skills and perceived health were improved by a 3-month rehabilitation period after the start of Device-Aided Therapy for advanced Parkinson's disease. An observed positive effect of rehabilitation on cognition in the first year after the therapy requires further confirmation.