Home-based therapeutic exercise as a treatment for Parkinson's Disease: an integrative review

Abstract Home-based therapeutic exercise has been examined by a number of recent studies as a care strategy for the control of signs and symptoms of Parkinson's Disease (PD). This integrative review of literature aimed to collect studies published in the last five years (2010-2014) about the use of home-based therapeutic exercise as a physical therapy care strategy for PD. A survey of articles in the LILACS, PEDro, PubMed and Cochrane databases was carried out, using the combinations: Physiotherapy AND Parkinson's Disease or Home Exercise AND Parkinson's Disease. To analyze methodological quality, the adapted Critical Appraisal Skill Program (CASP) and the Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality (AHRQ) were used. The benefits of conventional exercises were: stimulation of self-care; strength gain and increased range of movement; reduction in number of complaints and fear of falling; improvement in the motor symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and related quality of life. The benefits of rehabilitation with virtual reality were: improvement of gait, functional ability and balance, as well as positive findings for acceptance and motivation.