Comparison of the effects of a physiotherapist-supervised exercise programme and a self-supervised exercise programme on quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of a physiotherapist-supervised exercise programme in an exercise unit and self-supervised home exercise programme on quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease.

DESIGN: Assessor-blinded, quasi-randomized trial (alternate allocation).

SETTING: An outpatient exercise unit; home settings.

PARTICIPANTS: Thirty patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, Hoehn & Yahr I-III, stable medication use.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were included in the physiotherapist-supervised or home group. The exercise programme was performed for 10 weeks, three times/week either under the supervision of a physiotherapist or at home without supervision.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQLQ), Nottingham Health Profile (NHP), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

RESULTS: Patients in the supervised physiotherapy group improved more than the home exercise group in Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (total score, Parkinson's symptoms, emotional function), Nottingham Health Profile total, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (all domains) and Beck Depression Inventory scores.

CONCLUSIONS: The exercise programme under physiotherapist supervision was found to be more effective at improving activities of daily living, motor, mental, emotional functions and general health quality in patients with Parkinson's disease compared with a self-supervised home programme.