Effectiveness Of Rehabilitation Exercises On Activities Of Daily Living In Clients With Parkinson Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Parkinson disease is a progressive neurological condition that impairs motor functioning and decreases independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Non-pharmacological intervention is to use rehabilitation exercises to enhance functional ability.

Purpose: This study aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) by evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation exercises in enhancing activities of daily living among clients with Parkinson's disease.

Methodology: It was a quantitative true experimental pre-test-post-test control group study with 60 patients with Parkinson disease. The study participants were randomized into an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). After 6 weeks of weekly exercise (5 sessions/week, 30-45 minutes/session) under the experimental group, structured rehabilitation exercise was done and routine care was done with the control group. Barthel Index was used to measure ADL. Analysis was done based on descriptive and inferential statistics (paired and independent t-tests and chi-square test).

Results: There was no significant difference in pre-test ADL scores between the experimental (52.40 ± 8.12) and control groups (51.10 ± 7.95). Post-test scores showed significant improvement in the experimental group (78.60 ± 7.45) compared to the control group (54.30 ± 8.20) (t = 9.72, p < 0.001). The only significant improvement was within-group analysis, which was significant only in the experimental group (t = 12.85, p < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between ADL performance and disease duration and stage (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: ADL performance and functional independence in patients with Parkinson disease increased with structured rehabilitation exercises.