Caglar, A.T., Gurses, H.N., Mutluay, F.K., & Kiziltan, G. (2005). Effects of home exercise on motor performance in patients with Parkinson's disease. Clinical Rehabilitation, 19, 870-877.

Participants in this study consisted of 30 men and women (average age = 65.5) recruited from the Movement Disorders Outpatient Clinic and Neurology Department at Istanbul University's Cerrahpasa School of Medicine who were diagnosed with PD by a neurologist. Participants were assigned to an exercise (N=15) or control group (N=15).

All variables were significantly improved in the exercise group, from baseline to the second month. Comparison of the groups showed significant changes in 10-meter and 20-meter walking time, and time taken to turn around a chair at first-month assessment. These results suggest that if persons with PD are taught individualized and detailed home exercises by a physiotherapist, there is a statistically significant clinical improvement in their motor performance over an 8-week period.

Read the entire abstract at http://www.ncpad.org/364/2058/Effects~of~Home~Exercise~on~Motor~Performance~in~Patients~
with~Parkinson~s~Disease.