Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurologic disorder in older age groups, which affects the central nervous system. The disease creates disruption in the basal ganglia of the brain; therefore the patient makes a lot of movement. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance and balance training on muscle strength of PD patients. Twenty-two subjects with PD selected and randomly assigned into two group of 11; an experimental (mean±SD, age59.1 ± 4.1 year, height 175.2 ± 6.9 cm, weight 80.2±7.1 kg) and control groups (mean±SD, age58.5 ± 5.2 year, height 178.7 ± 8.3 cm, weight 79.6±6 kg). Patients in experimental group participated in a training program for 10 weeks, but control group did not participate in any program. Before and after this period muscle strength of quadriceps, hamstrings and gastrocnemius were measured using a dynamometer. The results were analyzed using independent and dependent t-test. Significant increase in both right and left quadriceps strength (P< 0.05) and right hamstring (P< 0.05) were observed. Strength of left hamstring was significantly (P< 0.05) decreased. There were no significant changes in right and left gastrocnemius strength (P> 0.05). It can be concluded that strength and balance exercise program improves muscle strength in PD; therefore it should be included in these patient treatment program.
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