Effects of Balance-Based Recreational Therapy on Postural Stability in Those Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease

Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have reported increased incidence rates of falling in comparison to undiagnosed peers. Falls in this population have been found to be related to increasing symptom intensity as well as decreases in overall quality of life. The following examines the effectiveness of balance-based Recreational Therapy within the community setting as part of a multidiscipline treatment team known as the Stillwater Communication, Arts, Nutrition, & Exercise program. A combination of previous data analysis from this longitudinal study have found that participants improved or maintained their physical functioning and reported less occurrences of falling. Treatment protocol focused on strength, balance, and gait-utilizing modalities such as exercise, obstacle courses, boxing training, and tai chi. Data collection of postural stability, or static balance, occurred throughout the 8-month treatment period on a monthly basis and the month 1 and month 8 mean differences were analyzed for statistical and clinical significance. Assessments revealed the successful increase and/or maintenance of overall postural stability through the 8-month treatment period. Results were not statistically significant, yet provide clinical evidence to the effectiveness of RT community-based balance training for individuals diagnosed with PD. The following study builds upon previous evidence that recreational therapy can be an effective treatment option for those who have been diagnosed with PD and potentially others who are experiencing issues with their balance. Implications for future studies and current practice are provided.